National Bowler of the Year

by Greg Kassen ’18

Breanna Clemmer, an elementary education major from Clover, S.C., was only two years old when she first began to bowl. Showing great promise for the game, in her high school years Breanna picked up almost as many awards as pins she knocked down. Before her time at McKendree, she earned three U15 North Carolina All-Star Bowler of the Year titles, a 2012 U15 Junior Gold Championship title, and a 2014 U20 Junior Gold Championship title.

Since coming to McKendree, her records have not ceased, either. In Breanna’s first year, she earned two gold medals at the 2017 Pan American Bowling Confederation Congress Youth Championships, was named both the 2017 National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) DII/DIII Rookie of the Year and Bowler of the Year, and was a member of the Bearcats’ NCAA National Championship title and ITC National Championship title squads. Once again, during her sophomore year, she was honored with the NTCA DII/ DIII Bowler of the Year award.

“It is an amazing feeling to be honored,” Breanna said. “This is because I struggled with my physical game when I came back to school and I feel like all of my hard work paid off.”

Currently a junior, Breanna will have a couple more years bowling for McKendree where she hopes she can earn more national championships. She has been on the Junior Team USA for five years now, and recently helped lead the women’s squad to the 2018 World Bowling Youth Championship title. After she graduates, she hopes to earn a spot on the Women’s Team USA, compete on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) tour, and ultimately become a PWBA major tour champion.