Powers reaches milestone appearance at USBC Women’s Championships
May 15, 2026
LAS VEGAS – Two-time titlist Sharon Powers of Lakewood, Colorado, reached a milestone achievement of 50 consecutive appearances at the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships this week in Las Vegas.
In achieving the major milestone, Powers was presented with a plaque, chevron and commemorative necklace at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Powers started her road to 50 years in her home state of Colorado in 1976, when the event was contested in Denver.
Her bowling journey started through her mother showing her the sport. As she grew up, she would watch the professionals come to town and wanted to be just like them.
“Well, my mom bowled, so she got us three kids started – I was 7,” Powers said. “I had no shoes, you know you would just throw, but I always just loved the sport. When the pros came to Denver, I was like 15 years old. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’”
Being able to make it to the tournament year after year to reach the milestone consecutively wasn’t exactly on Powers’ radar. She was just in the mindset of coming to compete.
“I don’t know why I just kept coming,” Powers said. “I just moved myself over to bowl nationals every year. I never thought about continuing consecutively, but when I got to about 40 years, I wanted to try for 50.”
Powers is a competitor who comes to bowl and have a good time.
“People ask me what motivates me, and I just say I love it (when talking about bowling),” Powers said. “I do like the people I get to go with … some of the good ones in Denver. I just love the game, period.”
Moving forward, Powers has some additional accomplishments she’d like to achieve to supplement her impressive career on the lanes.
“I still would like to have a couple more 800s and a couple of 300s,” Powers said. “Then, maybe roll the Queens again, not just the Senior Queens. I would love to get into the USBC Hall of Fame as well.”
Throughout the years at the Women’s Championships, Powers has had many amazing accomplishments and memories. Two of them resulted in gemstone trophies at the tournament.
In 2019, she rolled games of 243, 287 and 255 for a 785 series to help Powerhouse win the Diamond Team title with a 2,767 total. In 2021, she became the Diamond Singles champion in scoring an impressive 801 series (289-268-244).
“In 2019 when we were in Wichita, we were the winning team,” Powers said. “In Reno in 2021, I was so calm that day, nothing bothered me. I was just relaxed and having fun.”
In wrapping up her milestone day, Powers’ self-encouragement is to just keep going in the future.
“I just hope to keep going,” Powers said. “I remember looking, and not too many women have bowled 50 years. Now, I have.”
Powers closed her milestone appearance at the Women’s Championships with scores of 673 in team, 638 in doubles and 623 in singles for an all-events score of 1,934.
The Women’s Championships is celebrating its 106th edition in 2026 and making its sixth trip to Las Vegas. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 16,000 bowlers and 4,200 four-player teams competing across 65 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
In achieving the major milestone, Powers was presented with a plaque, chevron and commemorative necklace at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Powers started her road to 50 years in her home state of Colorado in 1976, when the event was contested in Denver.
Her bowling journey started through her mother showing her the sport. As she grew up, she would watch the professionals come to town and wanted to be just like them.
“Well, my mom bowled, so she got us three kids started – I was 7,” Powers said. “I had no shoes, you know you would just throw, but I always just loved the sport. When the pros came to Denver, I was like 15 years old. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’”
Being able to make it to the tournament year after year to reach the milestone consecutively wasn’t exactly on Powers’ radar. She was just in the mindset of coming to compete.
“I don’t know why I just kept coming,” Powers said. “I just moved myself over to bowl nationals every year. I never thought about continuing consecutively, but when I got to about 40 years, I wanted to try for 50.”
Powers is a competitor who comes to bowl and have a good time.
“People ask me what motivates me, and I just say I love it (when talking about bowling),” Powers said. “I do like the people I get to go with … some of the good ones in Denver. I just love the game, period.”
Moving forward, Powers has some additional accomplishments she’d like to achieve to supplement her impressive career on the lanes.
“I still would like to have a couple more 800s and a couple of 300s,” Powers said. “Then, maybe roll the Queens again, not just the Senior Queens. I would love to get into the USBC Hall of Fame as well.”
Throughout the years at the Women’s Championships, Powers has had many amazing accomplishments and memories. Two of them resulted in gemstone trophies at the tournament.
In 2019, she rolled games of 243, 287 and 255 for a 785 series to help Powerhouse win the Diamond Team title with a 2,767 total. In 2021, she became the Diamond Singles champion in scoring an impressive 801 series (289-268-244).
“In 2019 when we were in Wichita, we were the winning team,” Powers said. “In Reno in 2021, I was so calm that day, nothing bothered me. I was just relaxed and having fun.”
In wrapping up her milestone day, Powers’ self-encouragement is to just keep going in the future.
“I just hope to keep going,” Powers said. “I remember looking, and not too many women have bowled 50 years. Now, I have.”
Powers closed her milestone appearance at the Women’s Championships with scores of 673 in team, 638 in doubles and 623 in singles for an all-events score of 1,934.
The Women’s Championships is celebrating its 106th edition in 2026 and making its sixth trip to Las Vegas. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 16,000 bowlers and 4,200 four-player teams competing across 65 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.