What I didn’t know when I started out bowling decades ago, bowling would teach me everything I needed to know about life. In the beginning, I was just hanging out at the bowling center while my sister took to the lanes. 

In my HoF speech, I listed out some of the important lessons I’ve learned through bowling. I won’t get into all of the points (Watch my entire speech HERE!) However, one of the top lessons bowling taught me was how to find “my people.” And hold them close. So, in this post, I would like to share the thanks that I read out with my HoF acceptance this week. 

At the top of my thank you list is my husband. Thank you John. We literally have college bowling to thank for finding each other. And it is amazing really, that I found someone to experience all my career highs and lows with. Truly. From 1998 on, John has been my first hug after my biggest win. And my first hug after a disastrous event. His love and belief in me have never wavered. He is a big reason I had the confidence to be unapologetically me.

Next on my list are our 2 incredible kids. Thank you to my son, Madden, and to my daughter, Jersey.

When I won that professional title that helped Brian Voss win his 25th title? Madden’s heartbeat was inside me, and I always said that was the reason I bowled so well. And when I won my latest title last July, with EJ Tackett, he literally didn’t miss a shot we threw. Even though his heart isn’t contained in my body anymore, I always feel it with me. His empathy is endearing and his intuition is admirable.

My daughter Jersey shows me every day what it means to be a “strong girl.” To raise her has been such an honor. While I know there will be people who will tell her that she cannot do something. But I feel her response will be, “Watch me.” When she was 8, she told me that if she could have any superpower in the world, it would be to look at other people and know their stories. That moment took my breath away because what 8-year-old says that? She is magical. And Kind. And she is already changing the world.

Next I thanked a whole list of people who have really impacted my life, and who literally helped get me here.

The Hall of Fame Committee, and the USBC: Thank you for this overwhelming honor. To the other inductees, thank you for being so inspiring. 

Thank you to my Team USA Coaches and teammates: Palmer Fallgren, who believed in me when I was a nobody but believed I could be a somebody.

Thank you to Fred Borden, who taught me to be careful what I think about because it might come true.

Thank you to Jeri Edwards who taught me that you could be fierce AND have grace on the lanes. Thank you Gordon Vadakin, Susie Minshew, Tom Lemkuhl, Jeff McCorvey, Ken Yokobosky, Bryan O’Keefe, Rod Ross. You allowed me to feel the most honorable feeling that I will never forget: listening to the National Anthem while having a Gold medal placed around my neck. To my Team USA teammates, there are too many of you to name, but you know who you are, and thank you.

Thank you to my college coaches: Bill Straub and Paul Klempa, who my Freshman year of College, mainly showed me that I had a lot to learn. But who took the time to answer all my questions and lead my team and me to two National Championships. Thank you Coach Klempa and his wife Leanna for being here to celebrate with me tonight. I’ll never forget how at home I felt at Nebraska. I’ll also never forget your terrible dad jokes. 

Thank you to my career coaches: Dr. Dean Hinitz, Bill Spigner, Ron Hoppe, Will Clark, Jason Belmonte, and especially DJ Hayes. DJ has invested so much time and wisdom over the last 20 years. He repeatedly showed up for me At 9 am. At 9 pm. It didn’t matter. He was always there, willing to help. Even if we had to train during Cosmic Bowl.

Thanks to my sponsors for taking a chance on a small-town girl with a big dream. Brunswick for the boost in the beginning of my career. Storm, Bill and Barb Chrisman for believing in me for the last 12 years. What you give back to the sport is so admirable and motivates me to do more. Turbo and Lori Mraz for being my grip of choice for my entire career. H5G for allowing me to shine bright on the lanes.

Thank you to my ball reps for helping me choose the right ball to throw:

Rick Benoit, Chuck Gardner, Del Ballard, Chris Schlemmer, Hank Boomershine, Jim Callahan, Matt McNiel, Shawn Ryan, Steve Jacobs, and Steve Kloempken

And thank you to my best friends who came to celebrate this moment with me. They always show up for me. It means the world that they were there with me in Vegas. My niece Khyler and brother-in-law Scott were also here with my sister, Kassy, who flew in from Virginia.

Thank you Mark Iverson, the owner of Diversey River Bowl in Chicago and Gary, a former owner. Thank you for opening your doors to me like you had known me forever.  I spent countless hours at Diversey trying to get it right. I used to say to myself “this one is for the win” while I threw my ball down lane 36. Right next to the wall with the murals of Mark Roth, Earl Anthony, and me. 

Thank you to the Barton Family, the owners of Stardust Bowl III in Dyer, IN.

And thank you to the bowling trailblazers I’ve had the honor of knowing. Joan Romeo, Joyce Deitch, Pearl Keller, Joan Feinblum, Tom Clark, John Janawicz, Tim Mack.

Thank you to the writers who invested so much time to cover all of our accomplishments so that others knew what was possible. Jim Dressel. Bob Johnson. Bill Vint. Lucas Wiseman. Matt Cannizzaro. Gianmarc.

Finally, thank You to Eric Hartman for the hours and hours of time he took in nominating me. Bowling is lucky to have such an amazing historian of our sport. In 2020, he emailed me to let me know that I would be eligible to be nominated for the Hall of Fame soon and asked if he could nominate me. Amazing that someone I didn’t really know, spent hours and hours of time developing a resume for me better than the one that I was keeping. Extraordinary. And, I’m so grateful. 

And people always ask me what I want my legacy to be. My answer is this. To leave this sport better than I found it. 

Every month I’m inspired by my Elite Youth Tour bowlers, the non-profit I founded in 2012, that empowers young leaders to build strong communities and create positive social change through bowling. The EYT inspires young bowlers to “Leave Your Mark” on and Beyond the Lanes. Thank you to the EYT bowlers who show up each month. 

Bowling has taken me to over 30 countries. I’ve won a lot. I’ve lost a lot. But most importantly, in the end, I know that I was able to use bowling as a vehicle to do good and what an honor that has been.

Thank You Bowling.