Big scores highlight exciting day at 2025 USBC Women’s Championships
May 14, 2025
PHOTO: Kayla Pashina
LAS VEGAS – There was no shortage of incredible performances Tuesday at the 2025 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, which included three lead changes, three 300s and three 800s.
A tournament record also was set in all the excitement, as Kayla Pashina of Otsego, Minnesota, rolled the highest series in tournament history – 836 (300, 257, 279) – during her doubles set at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The first lead change of the day belonged to Adel Wahner of Verona, Wisconsin, and Maria Bulanova of Rockvale, Tennessee. The former collegiate teammates from Vanderbilt University took over the top spot in Diamond Doubles with 1,500.
The members of Sterner Strong 1 had another exciting day at the Bowling Plaza on Tuesday, taking the lead in a highly contested battle for Team All-Events with an 8,185 total. On Monday, the group – featuring Kristin McEntee, Terysa Wojnar, Michelle Sterner and Valerie Bercier – posted the top score in Diamond Team with 2,763.
Two-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour champion Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska, was responsible for a 300, 800 and lead change Tuesday, rolling games of 300, 243 and 257 for an 800 series to place her name at the top of the standings in Diamond Singles.
The final two honor scores for Tuesday belonged to USBC Hall of Famer Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, and Darian Miller of Slidell, Louisiana.
Woessner recorded her second 300 game at the Women’s Championships during her doubles set, while Miller posted 812 in doubles for the first 800 of her career.
Pashina had 18 consecutive strikes to start her record-breaking set. Although she opened after her streak ended in the seventh frame of Game 2, she closed with strikes on 14 of her final 17 deliveries.
Melissa Kammerer of Staten Island, New York, had set the record at Bowling Plaza during the tournament’s trip to the 60-lane venue in 2023. She finished with 818 to record the win in Diamond Singles.
The performance also helped Pashina and Kristina Rosberg of Ord, Nebraska, close the day in third place in Diamond Doubles with 1,468. Rosberg had a 632 series.
She also added 706 in team and 660 in singles to move into fourth place in Diamond All-Events with 2,202.
Pashina had started her doubles set at last year’s event in Reno, Nevada, with 299, and her overall performance during her time at the National Bowling Stadium helped her record a runner-up finish in Diamond All-Events with 2,198.
After her successful run last year, Pashina came into this year’s tournament with the mindset of keeping the same energy to score well again, as well as the same bowling ball.
“I actually came in with the same exact ball I used last year – same ball, same drilling, same everything,” Pashina said. “I came in and knew I was comfortable. I was just able to really grind and kept telling myself to throw good shots.”
Achieving a perfect game is a major highlight for any bowler, especially at the Women’s Championships. Pashina was itching for a second chance after last year’s close call.
“Hearing everyone get called out for 300s yesterday (before the team squad) stung a little bit, because I knew how bad I wanted it,” Pashina said. “I know it’s out there. I know I’m capable of shooting it, so I really wanted to grind and make sure I got it. I was probably more nervous for that one compared to any other 300 I’ve shot, because I wanted it that badly. I made sure to make the best shot I could on the 12th, and they all fell.”
After finishing the impressive 300, Pashina knew there was a shot at 800 but kept the momentum going into Games 2 and 3 focusing on trying to get to the lead in doubles.
“That was incredible,” Pashina said. “I didn’t know if I would be able to do it, but shooting 300, you know you have a legitimate chance at 800. I also knew Melissa had the record at 818. After I shot the 257, I thought in my head, ‘I have a chance.’ When I spared in the second frame (of Game 3), I knew I still had a chance at 800, but also as a doubles team, we knew we had a chance to take down the lead as well. I think at that point, the 800 fell out of my sight for a little bit, since we were so focused on the doubles number.”
Breaking the record was an exciting and unforgettable moment for her, and the performance helps her look ahead to the USBC Queens, which starts Wednesday at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino with the tournament’s official practice sessions.
“Going into the record book is amazing – it’s absolutely incredible,” Pashina said. “I can leave a legacy for when I’m no longer here, and I’m just grateful to compete at this level and be able to do this.
“I’m absolutely speechless. Being able to come in after 105 years of this tournament and put up a score like that – I really don’t have the words. Hopefully, I can bring that momentum into Queens. But I just can’t find the words to describe how happy and grateful I am right now.”
Maria Bulanova and Adel Wahner
In addition to helping Vanderbilt win the 2018 NCAA Bowling Championship, Bulanova and Wahner also spent their collegiate days as roommates.
The chemistry developed was on display as they posted the second doubles set of 1,500 or more in tournament history to take the lead. Maria José Rodriguez and Sofia Granda won Diamond Doubles in 2021 with a score of 1,560.
Wahner led the way with three games of 258 for a 774 series, and Bulanova added 223, 233 and 270 for 726.
They were joined on the lanes Tuesday by Kristin Quah, who also was part of their winning NCAA team in 2018, and Maranda Pattison. Quah and Pattison also were striking and initially took the lead with 1,458 before they were passed by moments later by Wahner and Bulanova. Quah and Pattison finished the day in fourth place.
Alyssa Ferraro and Ashly Galante started the day with the lead in Diamond Doubles with 1,400.
They began their run in doubles by focusing more on the experience, versus the scores.
“Honestly, not a secret sauce or anything, we were just having fun and didn’t go into it expecting to shoot 1,500,” Bulanova said. “I didn’t even track that we were doing that well until the eighth frame of the third game. That’s how much fun we were having. I think it comes easy when you have a great group of friends together. Like it says here, bowling is just the beginning, and I feel like that’s what we have.”
Wahner noted that Tuesday’s pairings also helped with seeing the right things on the lanes.
“In team, I didn’t see too much of a difference but it broke down a little more difficult for me as time went on,” Wahner said. “Today, especially with the four of us, we were all playing the same part of the lane, doing things similarly and playing off each other. It made it a lot easier going into today.
“I think it was really special just to have the four of us all together. I knew we were close but didn’t clock that we were that high, but in looking at the scores between us, we kept going back and forth.”
Although someone had to take the lead at the time, Bulanova also felt the teamwork helped push both pairings toward the top of the standings.
“I don’t know if we were pushing each other, but I think we were just have a great time and found great lines, which really helped us break it down well for each other,” Bulanova said. “We made it easier for each other.”
The past roommates may have several states between them now, but it looks like they’ll be pairing up at the Women’s Championships moving forward.
“In college, we always said, ‘Roomies that strike together, stay together,’” Bulanova said. “And, I think that if we win, it’s a testament to that.”
Sterner Strong 1 (from left): Michelle Sterner, Valerie Bercier, Terysa Wojnar and Kristin McEntee
Team All-Events is new to the Women’s Championships in 2025, and the race to become the first champion in the 36-game marathon – featuring the nine-game scores for all four team members – led to plenty of excitement Tuesday at South Point.
When the numbers came in, the members of Sterner Strong 1 held onto the top spot by a narrow margin. They stayed 10 pins ahead of Team 50/50 (8,175) during their squad and made it through another close call Tuesday night, as Heads Carolina Tails California posted 8,169.
Bercier – the 2019 PWBA Rookie of the Year – led Sterner Strong 1 with a 2,106 total. Wojnar – a 2016 Diamond Team champion alongside McEntee and Sterner – was a pin behind Bercier with 2,105.
McEntee – a two-time winner at the Women’s Championships – had 2,052, and Sterner – a three-time titlist – closed with 1,922.
The team averaged more than 227 across their two days at the Bowling Plaza.
After taking the lead in Diamond Team on Monday, the group had to settle in and manage the ups and down on their way to the top of the standings.
“Obviously, we had a lot of adrenaline after last night’s performance, but we were able to enjoy dinner together and have some fun,” McEntee said. “Then, we had to put it behind us, because we knew we had a big day ahead of us. I think today, they played differently, so it was just a process of striking the right balance of patience, aggressiveness and conversation with the group about the lanes and transition. As hectic and chaotic as it may have been for each us during a period of time, I think we were able to regroup and continue to perform when we needed to.”
The team now will leave Las Vegas with the lead in two events, and they appreciate every opportunity to compete at the highest level.
“We have a lot of great talent on this team, but with each event, you just want to soak it all in because you never know what the future looks like,” McEntee said. “As we continue to get older, I think it makes these types of performances that much sweeter.
“Every year, we have the expectation that we are going to win, and although that’s a lot of pressure on ourselves personally, it’s what every tournament and practice I have throughout the year is for – this event. To be able to put it all together and leave with the lead in two events with such a star-studded squad is really remarkable. It’s really amazing, and I’m very proud of the girls for what they were able to do.”
Erin McCarthy
McCarthy’s run to the lead in Diamond Singles capped a tremendous two-day stretch for the talented right-hander. She also moved into second place in Diamond All-Events with a fantastic score of 2,237. McCarthy shot 726 in team and 711 in doubles to go along with her 800 in singles.
Candy Kramer of Menifee, California, had taken the singles lead Sunday with 773, while USBC Hall of Famer Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, leads all-events with 2,261.
McCarthy was very relaxed and joking with her teammates, just really enjoying the overall experience of the Women’s Championships. She was confident and not letting the pressure or big moment get to her.
“Honestly, I wasn’t even really focusing on or thinking about trying to get an 800,” McCarthy said. “I had made a joke to start Game 3 and said, ‘Well, I can either miss in the first or 11th frame to try and catch Kelly for all-events.’”
Heading into her final frame of singles, McCarthy needed good count on her first shot to secure the lead. She needed to start the 10th with a strike, though, for a chance at 800. She delivered the necessary strike, then left a 2 pin on her second shot. She covered the spare to lock up 800 on the nose.
Recording both a 300 and 800 in the same series, while taking the lead, was an amazing moment for McCarthy.
“It’s honestly really neat that I was able to bowl this great here in Las Vegas,” McCarthy said. “It’s not something that can be accomplished very easily. I have never gotten first in an event here, so I am hoping my score sticks and I can go home this year with a win. It’s a pretty special moment for me.”
One of the great things about the Women’s Championships is that the event brings a lot of women together through bowling, giving competitors the chance to also develop lifelong friendships at the tournament.
“The group that I am with is just a lot about the camaraderie, socialization and friendship aspect, more than anything else,” McCarthy said. “You can create really great friendships at this event, and that’s what sets it apart from other bowling tournaments and events. You can have a good time, laugh and enjoy some fun bowling along the way.”
Jodi Woessner
Woessner, a three-time titlist at the Women’s Championships, rolled her 300 in Game 2 of doubles. She started her set with 193 and closed with 218 to finish with a solid overall score of 711.
She really composed herself throughout the perfect performance.
“After the 300, I was trying to come down from the emotional high of bowling a perfect game,” Woessner said. “I didn’t want to lose focus throughout my frames.”
Woessner became the second bowler in tournament history with multiple 300s at the Women’s Championships, joining USBC and PWBA Hall of Famer Jeanne Naccarato.
Her first 300 also took place at the Bowling Plaza and helped Sterner Strong 2 record the win in Diamond Team during the 2023 event with a 2,705 total.
Even though she has won at the Women’s Championships and previously bowled a 300 at the tournament, Woessner still knows how difficult it is to get another one.
“Obviously, it’s a big achievement,” said Woessner, who set the tournament’s all-events record in 2010 with a 2,330 total. “For me, this 300 is still a big deal, especially shooting it in a stacked overall squad, in my opinion.”
She was highly respectful of the other competitors on her squad Tuesday, and it meant a lot to be the only bowler to post 300 during the morning block.
“This is one of the strongest squads I have crossed paths with,” Woessner said. “We had some great PWBA bowlers here. To be the only one to shoot 300 (during my squad) is very surprising to me. The reason why is because they were very scorable, but I’m very proud that I was able to finish it off strong.”
Darian Miller
Miller started her doubles set strong with nine strikes on the way to 278. She left a 3 pin on her first delivery in the 10th frame.
In Game 2, she kept the momentum going with the front seven to post 276. After starting her third game with spares in three of the first four frames, she delivered seven straight strikes, with a nine count on her fill ball, to finish with 258.
She paired with Summer Jasmin of Beckley, West Virginia, during the set to finish Tuesday’s action in fifth place for Diamond Doubles with 1,447. Jasmin had 635.
This was Miller’s first appearance at the Women’s Championships, and she made a successful first impression after settling in.
“This was my first nationals, so coming in yesterday, I had a lot of jitters and was really nervous,” said Miller, who added 692 in singles and 607 in team for an all-events total of 2,111. “Yesterday, I made a lot of simple mistakes, so it started pretty rough. I just got my head together and made a ball change which allowed me to feel more confident.
“I threw some really good shots and had some lucky breaks that got me through that front nine. I started with the front seven in Game 2, made a little bit of a move but stayed with the same ball. I tried a different ball on my fill but ended up going back to my original ball and finished out with 258 for my 800. I can’t describe shooting my first 800 at my first nationals. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Having sights of an 800 after Games 1 and 2 can cause a bowler to keep their eyes on the scoreboard. For Miller, she was happy with her mental game and ability to continue to make great shots down the stretch.
“After the first two games I did the simple math in my head and knew I needed to be in the 240s,” Miller said. “I started a little slow the last game and was like, ‘nope.’ I just took it one shot at a time and started stringing some together again. When I got to the 10th – just give me the first one. I was hoping it would carry, and thankfully, it did.
“This is such a big stage, with so many people from around the country and world. The biggest names are competing here, especially this week. Just being in this environment, surrounded by so many great bowlers was a good feeling. Putting together a really good set meant a lot to me.”
Miller started bowling at a young age and hasn’t stopped from there. Her game truly began to shine during her college years.
“I started bowling youth leagues when I was 10,” Miller said. “We didn’t have a high school team, so I didn’t bowl for my high school, but I was recruited to Spring Hill College for all four years. I loved college bowling, and that’s where my game really started to develop.”
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
LAS VEGAS – There was no shortage of incredible performances Tuesday at the 2025 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships, which included three lead changes, three 300s and three 800s.
A tournament record also was set in all the excitement, as Kayla Pashina of Otsego, Minnesota, rolled the highest series in tournament history – 836 (300, 257, 279) – during her doubles set at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
The first lead change of the day belonged to Adel Wahner of Verona, Wisconsin, and Maria Bulanova of Rockvale, Tennessee. The former collegiate teammates from Vanderbilt University took over the top spot in Diamond Doubles with 1,500.
The members of Sterner Strong 1 had another exciting day at the Bowling Plaza on Tuesday, taking the lead in a highly contested battle for Team All-Events with an 8,185 total. On Monday, the group – featuring Kristin McEntee, Terysa Wojnar, Michelle Sterner and Valerie Bercier – posted the top score in Diamond Team with 2,763.
Two-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour champion Erin McCarthy of Elkhorn, Nebraska, was responsible for a 300, 800 and lead change Tuesday, rolling games of 300, 243 and 257 for an 800 series to place her name at the top of the standings in Diamond Singles.
The final two honor scores for Tuesday belonged to USBC Hall of Famer Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, and Darian Miller of Slidell, Louisiana.
Woessner recorded her second 300 game at the Women’s Championships during her doubles set, while Miller posted 812 in doubles for the first 800 of her career.
Pashina had 18 consecutive strikes to start her record-breaking set. Although she opened after her streak ended in the seventh frame of Game 2, she closed with strikes on 14 of her final 17 deliveries.
Melissa Kammerer of Staten Island, New York, had set the record at Bowling Plaza during the tournament’s trip to the 60-lane venue in 2023. She finished with 818 to record the win in Diamond Singles.
The performance also helped Pashina and Kristina Rosberg of Ord, Nebraska, close the day in third place in Diamond Doubles with 1,468. Rosberg had a 632 series.
She also added 706 in team and 660 in singles to move into fourth place in Diamond All-Events with 2,202.
Pashina had started her doubles set at last year’s event in Reno, Nevada, with 299, and her overall performance during her time at the National Bowling Stadium helped her record a runner-up finish in Diamond All-Events with 2,198.
After her successful run last year, Pashina came into this year’s tournament with the mindset of keeping the same energy to score well again, as well as the same bowling ball.
“I actually came in with the same exact ball I used last year – same ball, same drilling, same everything,” Pashina said. “I came in and knew I was comfortable. I was just able to really grind and kept telling myself to throw good shots.”
Achieving a perfect game is a major highlight for any bowler, especially at the Women’s Championships. Pashina was itching for a second chance after last year’s close call.
“Hearing everyone get called out for 300s yesterday (before the team squad) stung a little bit, because I knew how bad I wanted it,” Pashina said. “I know it’s out there. I know I’m capable of shooting it, so I really wanted to grind and make sure I got it. I was probably more nervous for that one compared to any other 300 I’ve shot, because I wanted it that badly. I made sure to make the best shot I could on the 12th, and they all fell.”
After finishing the impressive 300, Pashina knew there was a shot at 800 but kept the momentum going into Games 2 and 3 focusing on trying to get to the lead in doubles.
“That was incredible,” Pashina said. “I didn’t know if I would be able to do it, but shooting 300, you know you have a legitimate chance at 800. I also knew Melissa had the record at 818. After I shot the 257, I thought in my head, ‘I have a chance.’ When I spared in the second frame (of Game 3), I knew I still had a chance at 800, but also as a doubles team, we knew we had a chance to take down the lead as well. I think at that point, the 800 fell out of my sight for a little bit, since we were so focused on the doubles number.”
Breaking the record was an exciting and unforgettable moment for her, and the performance helps her look ahead to the USBC Queens, which starts Wednesday at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino with the tournament’s official practice sessions.
“Going into the record book is amazing – it’s absolutely incredible,” Pashina said. “I can leave a legacy for when I’m no longer here, and I’m just grateful to compete at this level and be able to do this.
“I’m absolutely speechless. Being able to come in after 105 years of this tournament and put up a score like that – I really don’t have the words. Hopefully, I can bring that momentum into Queens. But I just can’t find the words to describe how happy and grateful I am right now.”
Maria Bulanova and Adel WahnerIn addition to helping Vanderbilt win the 2018 NCAA Bowling Championship, Bulanova and Wahner also spent their collegiate days as roommates.
The chemistry developed was on display as they posted the second doubles set of 1,500 or more in tournament history to take the lead. Maria José Rodriguez and Sofia Granda won Diamond Doubles in 2021 with a score of 1,560.
Wahner led the way with three games of 258 for a 774 series, and Bulanova added 223, 233 and 270 for 726.
They were joined on the lanes Tuesday by Kristin Quah, who also was part of their winning NCAA team in 2018, and Maranda Pattison. Quah and Pattison also were striking and initially took the lead with 1,458 before they were passed by moments later by Wahner and Bulanova. Quah and Pattison finished the day in fourth place.
Alyssa Ferraro and Ashly Galante started the day with the lead in Diamond Doubles with 1,400.
They began their run in doubles by focusing more on the experience, versus the scores.
“Honestly, not a secret sauce or anything, we were just having fun and didn’t go into it expecting to shoot 1,500,” Bulanova said. “I didn’t even track that we were doing that well until the eighth frame of the third game. That’s how much fun we were having. I think it comes easy when you have a great group of friends together. Like it says here, bowling is just the beginning, and I feel like that’s what we have.”
Wahner noted that Tuesday’s pairings also helped with seeing the right things on the lanes.
“In team, I didn’t see too much of a difference but it broke down a little more difficult for me as time went on,” Wahner said. “Today, especially with the four of us, we were all playing the same part of the lane, doing things similarly and playing off each other. It made it a lot easier going into today.
“I think it was really special just to have the four of us all together. I knew we were close but didn’t clock that we were that high, but in looking at the scores between us, we kept going back and forth.”
Although someone had to take the lead at the time, Bulanova also felt the teamwork helped push both pairings toward the top of the standings.
“I don’t know if we were pushing each other, but I think we were just have a great time and found great lines, which really helped us break it down well for each other,” Bulanova said. “We made it easier for each other.”
The past roommates may have several states between them now, but it looks like they’ll be pairing up at the Women’s Championships moving forward.
“In college, we always said, ‘Roomies that strike together, stay together,’” Bulanova said. “And, I think that if we win, it’s a testament to that.”
Sterner Strong 1 (from left): Michelle Sterner, Valerie Bercier, Terysa Wojnar and Kristin McEnteeTeam All-Events is new to the Women’s Championships in 2025, and the race to become the first champion in the 36-game marathon – featuring the nine-game scores for all four team members – led to plenty of excitement Tuesday at South Point.
When the numbers came in, the members of Sterner Strong 1 held onto the top spot by a narrow margin. They stayed 10 pins ahead of Team 50/50 (8,175) during their squad and made it through another close call Tuesday night, as Heads Carolina Tails California posted 8,169.
Bercier – the 2019 PWBA Rookie of the Year – led Sterner Strong 1 with a 2,106 total. Wojnar – a 2016 Diamond Team champion alongside McEntee and Sterner – was a pin behind Bercier with 2,105.
McEntee – a two-time winner at the Women’s Championships – had 2,052, and Sterner – a three-time titlist – closed with 1,922.
The team averaged more than 227 across their two days at the Bowling Plaza.
After taking the lead in Diamond Team on Monday, the group had to settle in and manage the ups and down on their way to the top of the standings.
“Obviously, we had a lot of adrenaline after last night’s performance, but we were able to enjoy dinner together and have some fun,” McEntee said. “Then, we had to put it behind us, because we knew we had a big day ahead of us. I think today, they played differently, so it was just a process of striking the right balance of patience, aggressiveness and conversation with the group about the lanes and transition. As hectic and chaotic as it may have been for each us during a period of time, I think we were able to regroup and continue to perform when we needed to.”
The team now will leave Las Vegas with the lead in two events, and they appreciate every opportunity to compete at the highest level.
“We have a lot of great talent on this team, but with each event, you just want to soak it all in because you never know what the future looks like,” McEntee said. “As we continue to get older, I think it makes these types of performances that much sweeter.
“Every year, we have the expectation that we are going to win, and although that’s a lot of pressure on ourselves personally, it’s what every tournament and practice I have throughout the year is for – this event. To be able to put it all together and leave with the lead in two events with such a star-studded squad is really remarkable. It’s really amazing, and I’m very proud of the girls for what they were able to do.”
Erin McCarthy
McCarthy’s run to the lead in Diamond Singles capped a tremendous two-day stretch for the talented right-hander. She also moved into second place in Diamond All-Events with a fantastic score of 2,237. McCarthy shot 726 in team and 711 in doubles to go along with her 800 in singles.
Candy Kramer of Menifee, California, had taken the singles lead Sunday with 773, while USBC Hall of Famer Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, leads all-events with 2,261.
McCarthy was very relaxed and joking with her teammates, just really enjoying the overall experience of the Women’s Championships. She was confident and not letting the pressure or big moment get to her.
“Honestly, I wasn’t even really focusing on or thinking about trying to get an 800,” McCarthy said. “I had made a joke to start Game 3 and said, ‘Well, I can either miss in the first or 11th frame to try and catch Kelly for all-events.’”
Heading into her final frame of singles, McCarthy needed good count on her first shot to secure the lead. She needed to start the 10th with a strike, though, for a chance at 800. She delivered the necessary strike, then left a 2 pin on her second shot. She covered the spare to lock up 800 on the nose.
Recording both a 300 and 800 in the same series, while taking the lead, was an amazing moment for McCarthy.
“It’s honestly really neat that I was able to bowl this great here in Las Vegas,” McCarthy said. “It’s not something that can be accomplished very easily. I have never gotten first in an event here, so I am hoping my score sticks and I can go home this year with a win. It’s a pretty special moment for me.”
One of the great things about the Women’s Championships is that the event brings a lot of women together through bowling, giving competitors the chance to also develop lifelong friendships at the tournament.
“The group that I am with is just a lot about the camaraderie, socialization and friendship aspect, more than anything else,” McCarthy said. “You can create really great friendships at this event, and that’s what sets it apart from other bowling tournaments and events. You can have a good time, laugh and enjoy some fun bowling along the way.”
Jodi Woessner
Woessner, a three-time titlist at the Women’s Championships, rolled her 300 in Game 2 of doubles. She started her set with 193 and closed with 218 to finish with a solid overall score of 711.
She really composed herself throughout the perfect performance.
“After the 300, I was trying to come down from the emotional high of bowling a perfect game,” Woessner said. “I didn’t want to lose focus throughout my frames.”
Woessner became the second bowler in tournament history with multiple 300s at the Women’s Championships, joining USBC and PWBA Hall of Famer Jeanne Naccarato.
Her first 300 also took place at the Bowling Plaza and helped Sterner Strong 2 record the win in Diamond Team during the 2023 event with a 2,705 total.
Even though she has won at the Women’s Championships and previously bowled a 300 at the tournament, Woessner still knows how difficult it is to get another one.
“Obviously, it’s a big achievement,” said Woessner, who set the tournament’s all-events record in 2010 with a 2,330 total. “For me, this 300 is still a big deal, especially shooting it in a stacked overall squad, in my opinion.”
She was highly respectful of the other competitors on her squad Tuesday, and it meant a lot to be the only bowler to post 300 during the morning block.
“This is one of the strongest squads I have crossed paths with,” Woessner said. “We had some great PWBA bowlers here. To be the only one to shoot 300 (during my squad) is very surprising to me. The reason why is because they were very scorable, but I’m very proud that I was able to finish it off strong.”
Darian Miller
Miller started her doubles set strong with nine strikes on the way to 278. She left a 3 pin on her first delivery in the 10th frame.
In Game 2, she kept the momentum going with the front seven to post 276. After starting her third game with spares in three of the first four frames, she delivered seven straight strikes, with a nine count on her fill ball, to finish with 258.
She paired with Summer Jasmin of Beckley, West Virginia, during the set to finish Tuesday’s action in fifth place for Diamond Doubles with 1,447. Jasmin had 635.
This was Miller’s first appearance at the Women’s Championships, and she made a successful first impression after settling in.
“This was my first nationals, so coming in yesterday, I had a lot of jitters and was really nervous,” said Miller, who added 692 in singles and 607 in team for an all-events total of 2,111. “Yesterday, I made a lot of simple mistakes, so it started pretty rough. I just got my head together and made a ball change which allowed me to feel more confident.
“I threw some really good shots and had some lucky breaks that got me through that front nine. I started with the front seven in Game 2, made a little bit of a move but stayed with the same ball. I tried a different ball on my fill but ended up going back to my original ball and finished out with 258 for my 800. I can’t describe shooting my first 800 at my first nationals. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Having sights of an 800 after Games 1 and 2 can cause a bowler to keep their eyes on the scoreboard. For Miller, she was happy with her mental game and ability to continue to make great shots down the stretch.
“After the first two games I did the simple math in my head and knew I needed to be in the 240s,” Miller said. “I started a little slow the last game and was like, ‘nope.’ I just took it one shot at a time and started stringing some together again. When I got to the 10th – just give me the first one. I was hoping it would carry, and thankfully, it did.
“This is such a big stage, with so many people from around the country and world. The biggest names are competing here, especially this week. Just being in this environment, surrounded by so many great bowlers was a good feeling. Putting together a really good set meant a lot to me.”
Miller started bowling at a young age and hasn’t stopped from there. Her game truly began to shine during her college years.
“I started bowling youth leagues when I was 10,” Miller said. “We didn’t have a high school team, so I didn’t bowl for my high school, but I was recruited to Spring Hill College for all four years. I loved college bowling, and that’s where my game really started to develop.”
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.