Ohio bowler honored for 50 years at USBC Women’s Championships
May 02, 2024
RENO, Nev. – Rilla Yeater of Akron, Ohio, has had an enjoyable ride to become the first bowler at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships to celebrate 50 years of tournament participation.
This incredible woman made her USBC Women’s Championships debut at the 1970 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and she has not looked back since.
Yeater has visited 34 cities and 24 states through her first 49 appearances at the tournament.
She received a plaque, chevron and commemorative necklace Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium for her milestone achievement.
Yeater came all the way from her home in Akron to bowl in the 2024 tournament. She was unsure if she was going to be able to make it to her 50th appearance this year.
“This tournament is really a lot of fun, although I’ve had some health issues this year,” Yeater said. “So, I have only bowled three times all this year.
“All the bowlers are very friendly, and I don’t think I have ever met someone who was nasty or mean at any tournament I’ve ever been to.”
Yeater’s service to the sport spans the local, state and national levels, and she served on the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) and USBC board of directors as well.
“I was on the WIBC board of directors for four years, until we merged with the USBC – that would have been 11 years, I believe,” said Yeater, who is a member of the Summit County Sports, Summit County USBC and Ohio State USBC Halls of Fame.
Yeater’s favorite city she has been to for the tournament is Reno. She loves the National Bowling Stadium.
“The best city is Reno,” Yeater said. “I like Reno because I enjoy the scenery and the mountains in the background. I also liked Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1989. That was a really neat tournament.”
She recalls that Bismarck did not have enough hotel rooms for the bowlers to stay at during the tournament.
“The town didn’t have enough hotel accommodations for everybody, so the residents of Bismarck and the surrounding areas took bowlers in,” Yeater said. “I’m from Akron, Ohio, and all these years, others and I have stayed in contact with those great people from Bismarck.”
Yeater said, “It’s an honor to be honored here in Reno. I don’t expect things like that, but it was great to have all my friends from Akron here supporting me throughout the tournament.”
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.
This incredible woman made her USBC Women’s Championships debut at the 1970 event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and she has not looked back since.
Yeater has visited 34 cities and 24 states through her first 49 appearances at the tournament.
She received a plaque, chevron and commemorative necklace Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium for her milestone achievement.
Yeater came all the way from her home in Akron to bowl in the 2024 tournament. She was unsure if she was going to be able to make it to her 50th appearance this year.
“This tournament is really a lot of fun, although I’ve had some health issues this year,” Yeater said. “So, I have only bowled three times all this year.
“All the bowlers are very friendly, and I don’t think I have ever met someone who was nasty or mean at any tournament I’ve ever been to.”
Yeater’s service to the sport spans the local, state and national levels, and she served on the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) and USBC board of directors as well.
“I was on the WIBC board of directors for four years, until we merged with the USBC – that would have been 11 years, I believe,” said Yeater, who is a member of the Summit County Sports, Summit County USBC and Ohio State USBC Halls of Fame.
Yeater’s favorite city she has been to for the tournament is Reno. She loves the National Bowling Stadium.
“The best city is Reno,” Yeater said. “I like Reno because I enjoy the scenery and the mountains in the background. I also liked Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1989. That was a really neat tournament.”
She recalls that Bismarck did not have enough hotel rooms for the bowlers to stay at during the tournament.
“The town didn’t have enough hotel accommodations for everybody, so the residents of Bismarck and the surrounding areas took bowlers in,” Yeater said. “I’m from Akron, Ohio, and all these years, others and I have stayed in contact with those great people from Bismarck.”
Yeater said, “It’s an honor to be honored here in Reno. I don’t expect things like that, but it was great to have all my friends from Akron here supporting me throughout the tournament.”
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Women’s Championships page.