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Shannon Pluhowsky (born August 8, 1982) is an American left-handed ten-pin bowler who competes in the Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) and internationally. Pluhowsky is a 22-time member of Team USA (2001–2021, 2024),[6] and a former four-time member of Junior Team USA (2000–2003). Pluhowsky has eight professional championships, including major wins at the 2006 USBC Queens in Reno, Nevada, the 2014 BPAA Women's All-Star in Rockford, Illinois, and the 2021 PWBA Tour Championship in Reno, Nevada.

Early life and college career

Pluhowsky was born on August 8, 1982, in Phoenix, Arizona. Before her successful professional career she had a successful amateur and college career.[1] When she was younger she was a three-time Junior Gold Champion and a USOC World Bowler of the Year in 2004. She bowled at the University of Nebraska under coach Bill Straub who is credited for Pluhowsky's impeccable left-handed form.[7] She sports a big push-away and a straight and loose swing with a textbook finishing position.[8] She will still consult Straub to this day if she is struggling with her form.

At Nebraska, Pluhowsky was a first-team All-American in three of her four seasons, and second-team All-American in the other season. She was NCBCA Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the 2001–02 season, and was awarded Player of the Year again in the 2004–05 season. Shannon won the Intercollegiate Singles Championship in 2004, and her Nebraska team won two NCAA Bowling Championships (2004 and 2005).

Career accomplishments and accolades under Team USA

  • One gold medal (trios), one silver medal (team) and three bronze medals (singles, doubles, all-events) at 2018 PABCON Women's Championships
  • Bronze medal at 2016 World Bowling Singles Championships
  • Two gold medals (trios, Masters) at 2016 PABCON Women's Championships
  • One gold medal (doubles) at the 2016 PABCON Champion of Champions
  • One gold medal (team) at 2015 World Bowling Women's Championships
  • One gold medal (singles) and one silver medal (doubles) at 2015 Pan American Games
  • One gold medal (team) at 2014 PABCON Championships
  • Four gold medals at 2011 World Championships (doubles, trios, team, Masters)
  • 2002 and 2004 AMF World Cup champion

[1]

Professional career

Pluhowsky has won four PWBA titles, two of them majors. She won the 2006 USBC Queens, which occurred during the PWBA Tour's hiatus (2004 to 2014), but was retroactively credited as a PWBA title. Following her best finish at a major in several years (third at the 2021 U.S. Open), Shannon won the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship on October 31, 2021, for her second PWBA Tour title and second major. The tournament, which awarded a $50,000 first prize, was contested at the site of Pluhowsky's first major championship: the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.[9]

Looking to repeat as champion in the 2022 PWBA Tour Championship, Pluhowsky qualified as the #1 seed but was defeated in the championship match by #3 seed Stephanie Zavala.[10]

On May 4, 2024, Pluhowsky won the PWBA GoBowling! Twin Cities Open in Eagan, Minnesota. Having qualified as the #1 seed, she beat #5 seed Verity Crawley in the final match to earn her third PWBA Tour title.[11] On June 4, Pluhowsky won her fourth PWBA Tour title, and second of the 2024 season, at the PWBA Music City Classic in Smyrna, Tennessee.[12]

Pluhowsky's other professional titles came in the PBA Women's Series, which ran from 2007 to 2010, and at the 2014 BPAA Women's All-Star.[1]

List of professional titles

Major championships are in bold type.

  1. 2006 USBC Queens (Reno, Nevada)*
  2. 2007 Etonic Championship (Cheektowaga, New York)
  3. 2009 Chameleon Championship (Allen Park, Michigan)
  4. 2009 Scorpion Championship (Allen Park, Michigan)
  5. 2014 BPAA Women's All-Star (Rockford, Illinois)
  6. 2021 PWBA Tour Championship (Reno, Nevada)*
  7. 2024 PWBA GoBowling! Twin Cities Open (Eagan, Minnesota)*
  8. 2024 PWBA Music City Classic (Smyrna, Tennessee)*
  • *Counted as an official PWBA Tour title.

Other Career Accomplishments

Pluhowsky earned the United States Bowling Congress National High Average and High Series Awards for the 2017–2018 season as she set the record for the highest average for a season by a woman.[13] She posted a 250.7 average over 71 games during the Inland Owls league at Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio.[13] Pluhowsky was also:

  • Inducted into the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame in 2012
  • 2011 World Bowling Writers Bowler of the Year
  • 2011 and 2015 Team USA Trials champion
  • Three-time USBC Women's Championships titlist (2007 Classic Team, 2011 Scratch Singles, 2015 Diamond Team)
  • 2000-01 and 2004-05 Collegiate Player of the Year
  • 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2004–05 Collegiate All-America first team
  • U.S. Amateur champion in 2001, 2003 and 2004
  • 2002 and 2004 World Bowling Writers Female Player of the Year
  • 1999, 2000 and 2001 USBC Junior Gold Championships winner

[1]

Personal

Pluhowsky is married to massage therapist Carrie (Bland) Pluhowsky as of July 2021. Shannon and Carrie each have children from previous relationships.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Shannon Pluhowsky - PWBA player profile". pwba.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "World Championships Results". ABF-Online. Asian Bowling Federation. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "Medal History World Tenpin Team Cup 1994-2004". ETBF's Medal History. European Tenpin Bowling Federation. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Matt Cannizzaro. "Pluhowsky Wins Women's Masters at 2016 PABCON Adult Championships". Bowlers Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "World Youth Championships Results". ETBF's Medal History. European Tenpin Bowling Federation. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  6. ^ "TEAM USA - TEAM MEMBERS". bowl.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "BowlersJournal" (PDF).
  8. ^ Spigner, Bill. "BowlersJournal" (PDF): 74–75. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ Smith, Aaron (October 31, 2021). "PLUHOWSKY WINS 2021 PWBA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FOR SECOND MAJOR TITLE". pwba.com. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Smith, Aaron (August 9, 2022). "STEPHANIE ZAVALA WINS FIRST MAJOR TITLE AT 2022 PWBA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP". PWBA.com. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  11. ^ Grubaugh, Donovan (May 5, 2024). "PLUHOWSKY WINS 2024 PWBA GOBOWLING! TWIN CITIES OPEN". pwba.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  12. ^ Grubaugh, Donovan (June 4, 2024). "Pluhowsky takes home Music City Classic title to conclude week in Smyrna". pwba.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Shannon Pluhowsky Reclaims Record for Highest Season Average by a Woman – Bowlers Journal International – Professional Bowling Magazine". www.bowlersjournal.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  14. ^ "BOWL.com | Bowling legacy continues for Kelly family". bowl.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  15. ^ "Essential You Time Massage and Wellness". massagebook.com. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
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