Bowlers in the family

As it is in the workplace and in all of the sports I've played, many of my co-workers and/or teammates have become friends and family. In the 4 years since I began bowling so much, I often see couples bowl together and notice (in most cases) how much they enjoy each other's company. No doubt it's the same on the PBA tour, as I've found many of the wives/girlfriends of players are bowlers too. Here are a few examples:

Chris and Lynda Barnes

Carolyn Dorin-Ballard and Del Ballard Jr.

photo courtesy of BOWL.com

Brenda Edwards Padilla and Stephen Padilla

Other couples include: 

• Bill O'Neill and his wife, Christi White O'Neill, who bowled at Farleigh Dickinson University. 
• Shannon O'Keefe and her husband, USBC coach Bryan O'Keefe. 
• Mike Fagan and his fiancee, Emily Maier, who bowled at Wichita State.
• Stuart Williams and his girlfriend, Tina Stickney, who bowled at West Texas A&M. 
• Tim Mack and his wife, Brenda Norman Mack.

It extends to the spouse's families as well. Carolyn Dorin-Ballard's sister, Cathy Dorin-Lizzi, is a pro bowler and helps out with ESPN's women's bowling events as a field reporter. Cathy's husband Jeff, has bowled in PBA regionals. Parker Bohn's wife, Leslie Beamish Bohn, bowled at Wichita State. So did Leslie's sister, Chrissie Beamish Kent, who's married to PBA veteran Doug Kent.

A wild guess that date night for these folks isn't always dinner and a movie...