Indiana bowler rolls her way to lead at 2023 USBC Women’s Championships
April 27, 2023
LAS VEGAS – Being part of a leading team performance at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships already is an accomplishment in and of itself. To take over a second lead at the tournament, with a bowling ball you didn’t really think about using, might be even more impressive.
In just her second USBC Women’s Championships appearance, Rachel Atkins of New Haven, Indiana, brought that last ball out of her bag Wednesday and jumped to the top of the standings in Diamond Singles at the 2023 event, shooting games of 244, 217 and 266 for a 727 series.
Megan Jirsa of Middleton, Wisconsin, had posted the top score Tuesday at the South Point Bowling Plaza with 719.
Atkins also was part of the Jami’s Girls 1 quartet of DeWitt, Michigan, that took over the lead in Diamond Team on Tuesday with a score of 2,569. She was joined on the lanes by Cassondra Mize, Alexis Regnier and Jami Selden-Manor.
Their crossing team, featuring Allison Goodman, Jennifer Kocks, Susan Lightner and Jordyn Stone (Jami’s Girls 2), moved into second place in Diamond Team with 2,500.
On Wednesday, Atkins pulled out the last ball in her arsenal to try and have a good final set after struggling in team and doubles.
“I pulled that ball out and just kind of winged it,” said Atkins, who had 564 in doubles and 549 in team for an all-events score of 1,840.
She was clean through her first two games, and her only open during singles came in the second frame of the third game. Atkins quickly put that behind her as she threw nine strikes in a row to lock up the top spot in Diamond Singles, including the first two in the 10th frame.
“I honestly didn’t realize that I was potentially going to take over the lead until the last few shots,” Atkins explained. “It feels pretty incredible to do this after struggling. I’m really happy to have turned it around today.”
Pictured above: The members of Jami's Girls 1 and 2 at the 2023 USBC Women's Championships.
The Diamond Division features bowlers with an entering average of 175 and above.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.
In just her second USBC Women’s Championships appearance, Rachel Atkins of New Haven, Indiana, brought that last ball out of her bag Wednesday and jumped to the top of the standings in Diamond Singles at the 2023 event, shooting games of 244, 217 and 266 for a 727 series.
Megan Jirsa of Middleton, Wisconsin, had posted the top score Tuesday at the South Point Bowling Plaza with 719.
Atkins also was part of the Jami’s Girls 1 quartet of DeWitt, Michigan, that took over the lead in Diamond Team on Tuesday with a score of 2,569. She was joined on the lanes by Cassondra Mize, Alexis Regnier and Jami Selden-Manor.
Their crossing team, featuring Allison Goodman, Jennifer Kocks, Susan Lightner and Jordyn Stone (Jami’s Girls 2), moved into second place in Diamond Team with 2,500.
On Wednesday, Atkins pulled out the last ball in her arsenal to try and have a good final set after struggling in team and doubles.
“I pulled that ball out and just kind of winged it,” said Atkins, who had 564 in doubles and 549 in team for an all-events score of 1,840.
She was clean through her first two games, and her only open during singles came in the second frame of the third game. Atkins quickly put that behind her as she threw nine strikes in a row to lock up the top spot in Diamond Singles, including the first two in the 10th frame.
“I honestly didn’t realize that I was potentially going to take over the lead until the last few shots,” Atkins explained. “It feels pretty incredible to do this after struggling. I’m really happy to have turned it around today.”
Pictured above: The members of Jami's Girls 1 and 2 at the 2023 USBC Women's Championships.
The Diamond Division features bowlers with an entering average of 175 and above.
The 2023 Women’s Championships started April 23 and will conclude July 2. The event will run for 71 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza and feature more than 4,200 four-player teams and nearly 17,000 bowlers.
Follow updates and more from the official USBC Women’s Championships Facebook page.