Team USA women collect three medals on final day of competition at 2025 IBF World Championships
December 05, 2025
Team USA athletes and coaches celebrate at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai on Friday after the squad took gold in Women's Team and finished as the top overall women's federation at the 2025 IBF World Championships in Hong Kong. Pictured in the back row for Team USA (from left to right) are Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, Team USA Head Coach Bryan O'Keefe and Junior Team USA Head Coach Kelly Kulick while (from left to right) Bryanna Coté of Tucson, Arizona; Lauren Russo of O'Fallon, Missouri; Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio; Breanna Clemmer of Pikeville, Kentucky, and Julia Bond of Lincoln, Nebraska, hold up the flag in the front row.
FULL RESULTS
HONG KONG – The Team USA women finished strong, earning two gold medals and one silver during Friday’s final day of competition at the 2025 International Bowling Federation World Championships in Hong Kong.
Julia Bond of Lincoln, Nebraska; Breanna Clemmer of Pikeville, Kentucky; Bryanna Coté of Tucson, Arizona; Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio; Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, and Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri, reached the top step on the podium by taking first place in both Women’s Team and as the overall women’s federation champions while Pluhowsky secured a silver medal of her own thanks to a second-place finish in Women’s All-Events.
The outstanding final-act performance was certainly welcomed by the American women, who entered Friday’s final day of competition having only medaled twice at this year’s tournament – Clemmer earned Women’s Singles bronze on Nov. 27, and Martin and Bond teamed up for Women’s Doubles bronze on Nov. 30.
Team USA knew it would earn at least one more medal on Friday as it was guaranteed no worse than a bronze-medal finish just by reaching the Women’s Team semifinals at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai.
The Americans wanted more, however, and it showed from the moment the first shots were thrown.
The U.S. women started strong during semifinal action against Korea, opening with a score of 234. It wasn’t enough, however, as the Koreans posted a 257 of their own to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Baker match.
Despite being pushed to the brink of elimination, the Team USA women didn’t back down an inch, rebounding to win Game 2 by a score of 221-151 and then taking the deciding game by a mark of 212-160 to secure the victory and earn a spot in the Women’s Team gold-medal match.
There, the third-seeded Americans would take on No. 1 Malaysia, which earned its shot at gold thanks to a 2-0 (204-177; 198-145) semifinal sweep of No. 4 Japan.
The highly talented Malaysian squad included Professional Women’s Bowling Association champion Siti Rahman, 2025 PWBA Rookie of the Year Gillian Lim and Li Jane Sin, the 2024 PWBA Player of the Year. As such, Team USA knew it was going to have its hands full.
That assumption was proven correct when the Malaysians got the best of a grind-out game to take the opener by a final score of 191-179.
The U.S. responded in fine fashion once again, however, earning a 200-159 victory in Game 2 to square the match, 1-1, and send the Women’s Team final to a one-game, winner-take-all battle for the gold medal.
The deciding game was close throughout, but the Americans filled frames and did just enough down the stretch to keep Malaysia at arm’s length while securing a 199-185 win that gave Team USA the match victory and the Women’s Team gold medal.
Malaysia earned silver while both Japan and Korea took home bronze.
After the match, Martin discussed what the victory meant to her and her teammates.
“Having the opportunity to compete and ultimately win with this team was amazing,” Martin said. “I am grateful for everyone who made it possible.
“Our ups and downs throughout the week allowed us to grow, and we came together when it truly mattered. Our grit and resilience allowed us to compete at the highest level and ultimately come out on top. Being able to win again on this stage with such an amazing group of women is a moment I will never forget.”
Russo’s feelings were largely the same.
“Over the past two weeks, we trusted and believed in each other when things got difficult, and we were able to learn every time we bowled and create a good game plan going into the team event, which is what caused things to work out in our favor today,” Russo said. “It feels amazing to bring home another gold medal from Hong Kong to the U.S. Winning on this stage is incredible.”
The win also moved the Americans to the top of the standings as the overall women’s federation champions and helped Pluhowsky secure silver in Women’s All-Events.
The overall federation standings were determined by assigning points to each team based on its finishing position in each event. At the end of competition, those points were added up to determine the medalists.
Team USA emerged with gold by leading the 22-team women’s field with a total of 302.21 points (Team – 110; Trios – 84.38; Doubles – 55; All-Events – 27.83; Singles – 25). Singapore placed second with 285.17, and Malaysia finished third at 273.33.
All-Events standings at the 2025 IBF World Championships were determined using a ranking-points system similar to that employed at the annual Team USA Trials where an athlete attempts to finish with the lowest total possible while receiving one point for a first-place finish, two points for second place and so on.
Pluhowsky finished with 11 points in doubles, five points each in singles and trios and one point in team for an event total of 22 points, which was good enough for second place and the Women’s All-Events silver medal.
Gold went to Finland’s Essi Pakarinen (17) while bronze was collected by Shayna Ng of Singapore (23).
Plenty of medals were handed out on the men’s side during Friday’s final day of competition in Hong Kong as well.
France topped Sweden 2-0 (264-248; 257-228) to earn Men’s Team gold, which left the Swedes to settle for silver while both Germany and Korea walked away with Bronze.
Nevertheless, Sweden finished as the No. 1 team in the overall men’s federation standings, sitting atop the 28-team field with a tournament total of 379.88 points. Denmark was second with 353.79, and Korea placed third at 347.17.
Team USA’s men’s squad of Andrew Anderson of Chesterfield Township, Michigan; Ryan Barnes of Denton, Texas; Packy Hanrahan of Wichita, Kansas; A.J. Johnson of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Kristopher Prather of Romeoville, Illinois, and Chris Via of Blacklick, Ohio, finished ninth with 253.58 points.
Barnes, who earned the only medal among American men at this year’s tournament thanks to a bronze-medal finish in Men’s Singles on Nov. 27, was the highest U.S. men’s finisher in all-events, placing 23rd in the 166-player field with 68 points.
This year’s Men’s All-Events gold medal went to Sweden’s James Blomgren (16). Korea’s Ji Geun (20) and Lukas Jelinek of the Czech Republic (31) earned silver and bronze, respectively.
The final Team USA women’s medal count was as follows:
Bond – 3 (two gold, one bronze)
Clemmer – 3 (two gold, one bronze)
Coté – 2 (gold)
Martin – 3 (two gold, one bronze)
Pluhowsky – 3 (two gold, one silver)
Russo – 2 (gold)
Competition at the 2025 IBF World Championships began on Nov. 25 and featured world-class athletes from 31 nations who traveled to Hong Kong to fight for medals in singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and as overall federation champions. The tournament was contested on a 46-foot lane pattern designed specifically for the event.
All rounds of the singles and doubles competitions were contested at Top Bowl, which is located in Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon. For the trios and team events, qualifying took place at Top Bowl, but the semifinals and finals occurred at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai.
After all medals were awarded, the Victory Banquet officially brought the 2025 IBF World Championships to a close on Friday night.
CLICK HERE for more information on Team USA.
FULL RESULTS
HONG KONG – The Team USA women finished strong, earning two gold medals and one silver during Friday’s final day of competition at the 2025 International Bowling Federation World Championships in Hong Kong.
Julia Bond of Lincoln, Nebraska; Breanna Clemmer of Pikeville, Kentucky; Bryanna Coté of Tucson, Arizona; Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio; Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, and Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri, reached the top step on the podium by taking first place in both Women’s Team and as the overall women’s federation champions while Pluhowsky secured a silver medal of her own thanks to a second-place finish in Women’s All-Events.
The outstanding final-act performance was certainly welcomed by the American women, who entered Friday’s final day of competition having only medaled twice at this year’s tournament – Clemmer earned Women’s Singles bronze on Nov. 27, and Martin and Bond teamed up for Women’s Doubles bronze on Nov. 30.
Team USA knew it would earn at least one more medal on Friday as it was guaranteed no worse than a bronze-medal finish just by reaching the Women’s Team semifinals at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai.
The Americans wanted more, however, and it showed from the moment the first shots were thrown.
The U.S. women started strong during semifinal action against Korea, opening with a score of 234. It wasn’t enough, however, as the Koreans posted a 257 of their own to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Baker match.
Despite being pushed to the brink of elimination, the Team USA women didn’t back down an inch, rebounding to win Game 2 by a score of 221-151 and then taking the deciding game by a mark of 212-160 to secure the victory and earn a spot in the Women’s Team gold-medal match.
There, the third-seeded Americans would take on No. 1 Malaysia, which earned its shot at gold thanks to a 2-0 (204-177; 198-145) semifinal sweep of No. 4 Japan.
The highly talented Malaysian squad included Professional Women’s Bowling Association champion Siti Rahman, 2025 PWBA Rookie of the Year Gillian Lim and Li Jane Sin, the 2024 PWBA Player of the Year. As such, Team USA knew it was going to have its hands full.
That assumption was proven correct when the Malaysians got the best of a grind-out game to take the opener by a final score of 191-179.
The U.S. responded in fine fashion once again, however, earning a 200-159 victory in Game 2 to square the match, 1-1, and send the Women’s Team final to a one-game, winner-take-all battle for the gold medal.
The deciding game was close throughout, but the Americans filled frames and did just enough down the stretch to keep Malaysia at arm’s length while securing a 199-185 win that gave Team USA the match victory and the Women’s Team gold medal.
Malaysia earned silver while both Japan and Korea took home bronze.
After the match, Martin discussed what the victory meant to her and her teammates.
“Having the opportunity to compete and ultimately win with this team was amazing,” Martin said. “I am grateful for everyone who made it possible.
“Our ups and downs throughout the week allowed us to grow, and we came together when it truly mattered. Our grit and resilience allowed us to compete at the highest level and ultimately come out on top. Being able to win again on this stage with such an amazing group of women is a moment I will never forget.”
Russo’s feelings were largely the same.
“Over the past two weeks, we trusted and believed in each other when things got difficult, and we were able to learn every time we bowled and create a good game plan going into the team event, which is what caused things to work out in our favor today,” Russo said. “It feels amazing to bring home another gold medal from Hong Kong to the U.S. Winning on this stage is incredible.”
The win also moved the Americans to the top of the standings as the overall women’s federation champions and helped Pluhowsky secure silver in Women’s All-Events.
The overall federation standings were determined by assigning points to each team based on its finishing position in each event. At the end of competition, those points were added up to determine the medalists.
Team USA emerged with gold by leading the 22-team women’s field with a total of 302.21 points (Team – 110; Trios – 84.38; Doubles – 55; All-Events – 27.83; Singles – 25). Singapore placed second with 285.17, and Malaysia finished third at 273.33.
All-Events standings at the 2025 IBF World Championships were determined using a ranking-points system similar to that employed at the annual Team USA Trials where an athlete attempts to finish with the lowest total possible while receiving one point for a first-place finish, two points for second place and so on.
Pluhowsky finished with 11 points in doubles, five points each in singles and trios and one point in team for an event total of 22 points, which was good enough for second place and the Women’s All-Events silver medal.
Gold went to Finland’s Essi Pakarinen (17) while bronze was collected by Shayna Ng of Singapore (23).
Plenty of medals were handed out on the men’s side during Friday’s final day of competition in Hong Kong as well.
France topped Sweden 2-0 (264-248; 257-228) to earn Men’s Team gold, which left the Swedes to settle for silver while both Germany and Korea walked away with Bronze.
Nevertheless, Sweden finished as the No. 1 team in the overall men’s federation standings, sitting atop the 28-team field with a tournament total of 379.88 points. Denmark was second with 353.79, and Korea placed third at 347.17.
Team USA’s men’s squad of Andrew Anderson of Chesterfield Township, Michigan; Ryan Barnes of Denton, Texas; Packy Hanrahan of Wichita, Kansas; A.J. Johnson of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Kristopher Prather of Romeoville, Illinois, and Chris Via of Blacklick, Ohio, finished ninth with 253.58 points.
Barnes, who earned the only medal among American men at this year’s tournament thanks to a bronze-medal finish in Men’s Singles on Nov. 27, was the highest U.S. men’s finisher in all-events, placing 23rd in the 166-player field with 68 points.
This year’s Men’s All-Events gold medal went to Sweden’s James Blomgren (16). Korea’s Ji Geun (20) and Lukas Jelinek of the Czech Republic (31) earned silver and bronze, respectively.
The final Team USA women’s medal count was as follows:
Bond – 3 (two gold, one bronze)
Clemmer – 3 (two gold, one bronze)
Coté – 2 (gold)
Martin – 3 (two gold, one bronze)
Pluhowsky – 3 (two gold, one silver)
Russo – 2 (gold)
Competition at the 2025 IBF World Championships began on Nov. 25 and featured world-class athletes from 31 nations who traveled to Hong Kong to fight for medals in singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and as overall federation champions. The tournament was contested on a 46-foot lane pattern designed specifically for the event.
All rounds of the singles and doubles competitions were contested at Top Bowl, which is located in Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon. For the trios and team events, qualifying took place at Top Bowl, but the semifinals and finals occurred at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai.
After all medals were awarded, the Victory Banquet officially brought the 2025 IBF World Championships to a close on Friday night.
CLICK HERE for more information on Team USA.