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I’ve been bowling since I was 4 years old. I’ve always had a natural affinity for
sports. Being tall and athletic at a young age certainly helped me get my start.
(I’m 5’10" now!) I bowled in my first league at age 7, won my first trophy and
was forevermore hooked on the game. Throughout my formative years, I participated
in many activities (tennis, golf, softball, basketball, volleyball, acting, singing,
dancing, writing, violin, piano, etc.) but through it all, I always bowled at least
twice a week and I always dreamed of the day that I would compete on the LPBT, now known as the PWBA Tour.
As a junior, I enjoyed great success earning trophies,
medals, plaques, club titles…the kind of stuff that keeps a kid
interested until she grows older and realizes that scholarships and money are
also available if the scores are high enough. I won a couple small scholarships
while going to a non-bowling school (UC Santa Cruz). In 1987, I transferred
to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where I bowled anchor for their
team and was also President of their Bowling Club. (I majored in Human
Development and Psychology so watch out! :-D) I also was instrumental in developing a
youth leaders program for junior bowlers in California and was Public Relations
Chair, Treasurer and a founding member of the California Youth Leaders Association.
That position was instrumental in me being hand-selected by the Executive Board of
the Young American Bowling Alliance as their West Coast Youth Advisor. I won’t
toot my own horn here (anymore than I already have! :-D) but I will be including
a more extensive bowling resume so that you may learn more about "what I’ve done"
over the years. For now, check out my recent highlights.
After over 23 years of bowling as an amateur, I made the turn to professional bowler in January 1996 when I gave up my career as the No. CA Regional Manager of a successful national technical placement firm. Leaving this position was a tough decision fiscally but emotionally, I knew I had to follow my heart. In my home base in the Silicon Valley, I knew that I’d make more money in the field I was in then I could realistically hope to make out on tour unless prize funds dramatically increased. It’s not that I didn’t have confidence in my abilities (even though I knew it would take me a couple years on tour to come to speed), but it was the fact that after checking the earning statistics for the previous year, I was already earning close or equal to that of the top few players.
Money, although certainly a great thing to have, didn’t buy my dream. Nor was
I particularly fond of more years of 60+ hour work weeks. For over 20 years I
had dreamed of becoming a professional bowler. I told myself that despite
challenges, I would let nothing hold me back. I have not regretted my decision
although it’s tough out on tour paying my own way (about $750/week). I have had
a little assistance here and there with sponsorship but for the most part, I have
paid all my own expenses, especially in 1996 and 1997.
In March of 1998, I signed on to Shirt Staff with Visionary Bowling Products, LLC. It is a pleasure to be working with a new company that is so dedicated to helping bowling and women's bowling in particular. The Wonders family is easy to work with and the PWBA Visionary Ball Rep and Sales Manager, Bill Calhoon has an excellent reputation and knowledge of the game and drillings. I am also contracting with Visionary to design and maintain their website (soon to be: www.visionarybowling.com).
In addition to working with Visionary, I am always interested in representing other non-competitive organizations. (Visionary makes bowling balls and also has a line of shirts and towels and bags.) With my sales, marketing, modeling and speaking experience, positive attitude and innovative
web page designs, I know that I would make a super representative for a variety of progressive and successful organizations. I welcome
all inquiries into corporate or personal
sponsorship/donations.
My first year on tour was an educational experience. Although I didn’t
participate in all the tournaments or make as much money as I would have liked,
I learned a lot and made some great contacts and friends with people very
intelligent within the industry. I was one of three nominees for 1996 Rookie
of the Year (along with tour standout and winner, Liz Johnson and my best bowling
friend on tour, Stephanie Chiera). It was quite an honor for me to be on the
ballot.
My second year wasn't quite as rosy, physically. I had a shoulder injury in Delaware in Fall of 1996 which plagued me off/on until Fall of 1997. I had to w/d from a couple tournies and take off the complete Summer tour. Fortunately, I feel TERRIFIC now, have not had shoulder pain for quite awhile, am bowling super and have had a lot of great support from family and the friends I have made online. Fall 1997 was a much better season than Fall 1996. I had my best performances in the Lady Ebonite Open and the Baltimore Eastern Open (did you see my pic on ESPN?)and also bowled very well in Long Island and in most of the other stops too.
I have lots of respect for my bowling peers and am proud of the reputation
I have obtained as a friendly, approachable pro with a positive attitude. In 1998, I was one of eight pros on the ballot for the 1997 PWBA Robby Sportsmanship Award (Kim Canady, Nikki Gianulias, Sue Jeziorski, Lilia Johnson, Liz Johnson, Brenda Norman and Carol Norman were the other seven nominees) Kim won repeat honors. It certainly was a thrill to be nominated and it would be a real thrill to someday have that honor.!
Winter 1998 was my best Winter Season yet. On March 1, 1998, I was signed to shirt staff with Visionary Bowling Products, LLC. I came in 25th in the Visionary sponsored event in Jacksonville (+196 and missing the top 24 by ONE PIN) and then two weeks later, I came in 26th in Altamonte Springs. What is really exciting about this is that I made some changes to my game in the middle of the swing and I really improved my first round starting blocks (13th in Jacksonville, 12th in Altamonte Springs, 10th in Atlanta). I will continue to work hard over the break and I look forward to a lucrative Spring, Summer and Fall 1998
In January of 1997, an informal "Tiger Karen" fan club started with friends I made online through AOL. Now the club has wonderful worldwide members and with the emergence of this website, I expect the number to grow rapidly. I hope the PWBA will take my lead with promoting bowling online and create websites for each of their touring players. (Of course, I could be hired to do it for them…hint hint! :-D). I have always been an advocate to improve and better market women’s bowling!! Check out the wealth of bowling info on my site and check back often! Don’t forget to check out the PWBA Spring tour on ESPN.
I love bowling professionally. It’s terrific to travel around the country, meet super people, bowl in pro-ams and have the opportunity to "be my own boss" and compete in something I truly enjoy. I have always advocated for others to go for their dreams and I will continue to encourage others until the day I die. My personal philosophy is that if a person isn't afraid to risk, they don't deserve the rewards of acheivement. As I sign in my program books, "if you believe it, you can achieve it! GO FOR YOUR DREAMS!"
Karen Krejcha
Copyright © 1998, Karen Krejcha
Revised -- 3/23/98
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