Dena Kearney (“Momma D” as she is affectionately known) was a “late bloomer” to the sport of bowling. She would go to the bowling center with her girlfriend to watch and once was asked to sub. That was the day her love of the sport began and has continued for 35 years. She even got her father and son involved in the sport.
Dena has always been interested in numbers, and she would keep her team’s record every week. In her second year as a league bowler, she was elected treasurer of the Hilltoppers League at Brunswick River Bowl. That election set her on a path of service and stewardship that few can equal.
Her league officer experiences include serving as vice president of one league and as secretary or secretary/treasurer of nine different leagues in five area centers.
Her service to the Washington D.C. area bowling community extends far beyond these efforts. Dena has provided years of volunteer administrative support to up-and-coming league officers throughout the NCAUSBCA. Highly regarded for her wealth of knowledge and expertise in the governance of the sport, Dena has advised and mentored many league officers of differing experience levels on the interpretation of rules and bylaws.
In addition to her league officer experience, Dena volunteered her time to the youth by ensuring compliance and accuracy of the weekly league standing sheets for the Youth Bowling League at AMF University and AMF Capital Plaza from 2000-2012. She presently volunteers her time and expertise at local association headquarters with data entry and league award fulfillment.
For more than 12 years, Dena has coordinated trips to various bowling tournaments, including the Virginia State Women’s, Ladies East Coast Classic, Fredericksburg (Va.) Women’s, and the Hoinke Classic. She ensured that hotel accommodations are arranged and tournament applications are correct and sent in a timely manner.
She recently has taken up the task of providing members from the area the best USBC coaching has to offer, negotiating and coordinating trips to Arlington, Tex., to the International Training and Research Center.
On the lanes, Dena maintained a 180-plus average for over a dozen years and topped 190 for eight years. In March 2005, she rolled a perfect game and a 744 series at AMF University in a season in which she recorded her highest average, 205. She won the Singles category in the 1991 WDCAWBA City Tournament (A Division) and the 2003 Williamsburg (Va.) Mixed Tournament (Seniors Division). Just last year, she placed third in the “65-70” Women’s Singles event of the NCAUSBCA Seniors Tournament.
Dena Kearney’s continuous dedication to the sport she loves as well as her unending desire to serve area bowlers make her a splendid and most deserving addition to the NCAUSBCA Hall of Fame.