USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. – Shannon Quigley used a late string of strikes to edge her way to the best series in Ruby Singles at the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships.
She fired off a great Game 1 score of 237 on Tuesday at the National Bowling Stadium, and she followed up in Game 2 with a score of 196. She saved her best bowling for last with a great Game 3 score of 245, which included six consecutive strikes starting from the fifth frame.
This all added up for a 678 series to take the lead in Ruby Singles by six pins. Kelly Medley of Cheyenne, Wyo., previously held the lead with 672.
Quigley’s sixth consecutive strike in Game 3 helped to start her 10th frame, and a nine count on her next delivery officially put her name at the top of the leaderboard.
She was surprisingly shocked to find out the fantastic news that she had taken the lead.
“I wasn’t really paying attention to whether I took the actual lead or not,” Quigley said. “My whole swing vibe was the same thing every single time I went up to bowl.”
Quigley was jubilant and jumping up for joy. Out of Bartlett, Ill., she was joined by her husband, Drake, family and friends in the celebration.
“It’s super exciting and an amazing feeling,” said Quigley, who made her seventh appearance at the USBC Women’s Championships. “I mean my mom has been a bowler for a long time. I started out around 12 years old, and the Women’s Championships is like a family event for us.”
Quigley’s mother has given her a lot of inspiration over the years when it comes to bowling.
“We come together as a family,” Quigley said. “My mom and I do doubles together. She has really pushed me throughout the entire time of this whole tournament.”
Quigley has been to the National Bowling Stadium several times and has always loved the atmosphere at the venue.
“I like when we have to travel for the championships, but this is one of the best stadiums to be in,” Quigley said. “The National Bowling Stadium is the best house to bowl in. It’s more equitable, very easy to get around and the lanes are always amazingly well done.”
She is coming off a big injury from last year, and Quigley showed a lot of determination to quickly come back from an injury that could sideline others for a long time to do exceptionally well during her appearance at the Women’s Championships.
She also moved into second place in Ruby All-Events during her trip to Reno, adding sets of 598 in doubles and 581 in team for an all-events score of 1,857. Diane Nehl of New Hampton, Iowa, leads Ruby All-Events with 1,881.
“I tore my meniscus, so my whole swing has been redeveloped in the last year,” Quigley said. “I would say I’m not like 100%. I’d say I’m 90% healed of what I can fully do with that muscle.”
Ruby Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 156-175.
NEW EMERALD LEADER
Genevieve Randal had a great overall appearance during her time at the Championships, taking the lead in Emerald All-Events.
Randal, out of Klamath Falls, Ore. was fantastic from start to finish at the National Bowling Stadium. She was consistent through her respective team, doubles and singles events.
She took the lead with a total of 1,769. Randal fired off a 567 series to help her team, and she followed that up with 585 for her doubles event. During singles, Randal had her best series, rolling to a 617 total.
Her overall score passed the 1,743 that previously led Emerald All-Events, posted by Jenny McDonald of Stockbridge, Ga.. Her effort in singles currently has her placed in fourth. Wanda Swindle of Shelbyville, Texas, leads Emerald Singles with 649.
Randal was shocked that she took the all-events lead in the Emerald Division.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Randal said. “I had no idea. I knew I was doing pretty well, but I didn’t know what to expect. I’m still processing this. I told my husband back home in Oregon, and they were talking about it and celebrating already.”
Her trip to the 2024 USBC Women’s Championships was only the second time Randal has ever been to the National Bowling Stadium. She met her husband at the National Bowling Stadium as well.
“I bowled in my first nationals here as a 100 bowler,” Randal said. “It’s ironic and fantastic that I met my future husband, Paul, here at the Stadium. We have been together for 13 years now.”
The National Bowling Stadium has been good to Randal over the years. She said that, “The National Bowling Stadium has always had a special place in my heart, and it’s even cooler now.”
Her husband helped to teach her the overall mechanics of bowling.
Randal’s mother always wanted her to pick up bowling, although she wasn’t really interested at the time.
Sometimes, things change over time, and it wasn’t until she met her husband where it became more serious. She has really taken flight the last two years in bowling overall.
The Emerald Division includes bowlers with entering averages of 136-155.