ANNESE KELLY-DUNLEAVY

Inducted 1991 - Superior Performance

Annese’ Uncle Henry introduced her to the game of bowling.  Every Sunday, the two would go to a little 8-lane bowling center in New York, which still used human pinsetters.   To encourage her interest in bowling, Annese was given gifts every time she did something good on the lanes.  Annese was 13 years old when she first started her league bowling, and ended her first year with a 125 average.  By age 19, Annese had already gained international fame by being part of the American team that captured several gold and silver medals in the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ) American Zone Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Annese was amazed to observe the Puerto Ricans cheering on their team, while accompanied by music as they cheered.  Five years later, Annese was once again a part of the USA team, competing this time in the FIQ World Tournament Championships in Manila, the Philippines.  Annese brought home two more gold medals.  In 1981, Annese fortified her reputation as a fierce international competitor by bringing home two more gold medals from the FIQ American Zone Tournament held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  And through all her tournament championships she has won, Annese states her proudest moment came each time the American National Anthem was played as she received her gold medals.  In 1985, her bowling skills earned her induction into the WIBC Hall of Fame for Superior Performance, the first woman to be inducted into that Hall as an amateur.   Back home during league play, it is not uncommon to see Annese dancing to music being played through her earphones, laughing and joking with her fellow bowlers and making everyone have a good time.