Kendra Gaines started bowling at the age of four and did all of her youth, collegiate, and adult league bowling in the D.C. area before turning pro in 1998. She bowled in leagues at Andrews Air Force Base, AMF Annandale, Crofton, Fort Meade, and Bowl America Shirley, and she ran the pro shops at Andrews and Fort Meade.
Her 217 average at Annandale topped all Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association members in 1994-1995, when she averaged 211 at Shirley and, while also a member of NCABA, 209 at Crofton (and 222 in 1995-1996). She was the first area woman to bowl two 300 games in one season.
Until turning pro, Kendra was best known for her accomplishments as a four-time Team USA member, representing and winning gold medals for the United States all over the world, including Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, and South Africa, and South Korea.
After resigning from Team USA in 1998 to pursue a professional career, Kendra was a rising star on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour until it folded last year. She quickly earned respect on the tour, winning the Greater Sebring (Fla.) Open in only her fourth pro event. Kendra was fourth in earnings ($67,800) and average (213.57) for the final full season of the PWBA in 2002, a year in which she made eight television appearances and won her second career title.
She has excelled in WIBC Tournament competition, recording a then-record all-events score of 2,039 (226.56) in the Classic Division of the 1997 event in Reno, Nev., and rolling the tournament’s first-ever 800 series (812) in 2000, also in Reno. In addition, she won the 1998 Classic Doubles with Lynda Norry (Quad Cities, Illinois-Iowa) and has second- and third-place finishes in the Queens.
Other notable accomplishments/honors/credentials include:
- Seven 300 games (including one on a Sport Bowling condition) and two 800 series (812, 811).
- USA Silver Certified Coach, Junior Team USA 2004 Assistant Coach, and University of Central Florida Assistant Coach.
- Four PWBA regional championships and four Women’s All-Star Association (WASA) titles.
- 1992 — Second Team Collegiate All-American while at Essex Community College in Baltimore and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Events champion (1992-1993).
- 1995 & 1996 — Bowlers Journal All-Amateur Team (Bowler of the Year in 1996).
- 1996 — Bowling Digest Amateur Bowler of the Year.
- 1996 & 1997 — Bowling Writers Association of America Amateur Bowler of the Year.
- 1999 — Bowlers Journal Doubles champion with John Gaines in Syracuse, N.Y.
- 2002 & 2003 — WIBC Second Team All-American.
- 2004 — Nearly becomes the first woman to win a Professional Bowlers Association regional title as she finishes second at a PBA event in Fort Bragg, N.C., losing 257-256 in the championship match.
Kendra Gaines has a proven record of accomplishment on the lanes wherever she has bowled. She is a superb addition to the WDCAWBA Hall of Fame.