AWBA - American Wheelchair Bowling Association

06/12/2026

We are pleased to announce updates to the September tournament that’s been held in Virginia for several years. Again, this is a partnership with the and the .

This year, the tournament is moving to in Hampton, Virginia. This is in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk area; for those booking airline flights, the best options are Norfolk International (ORF) or Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF). The center is about the same distance/driving time from either airport, but NOR will require crossing the Hampton Roads Bridge/Tunnel.

Further, the dates listed on the AWBA website are incorrect; what’s there were anticipated. The tournament will run September 11-12-13. Please plan accordingly.

Century Lanes is undergoing a major overhaul; they are installing new synthetic lanes, bringing all 32 pinsetters to full operation. The settee is being brought level with the approaches and concourse, and both AWBA and PVA leadership have been in touch with the center in anticipation of this event. We will definitely have a better experience for everyone, including bowlers, spectators, organizers, and Up/Down participants.

For those who have previously driven to Short Pump, the new location is about 90 minutes down I-64 to the east.

Additional notes: Within proximity to Century Lanes is the Hampton Coliseum, with its surrounding area including several hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas. The greater Hampton Roads is also home to the Yorktown Battlefield, where Cornwallis surrendered, ending hostilities of the American Revolution.

We look forward to seeing you in Hampton, Virginia this September!

06/12/2026

We are pleased to announce updates to the September tournament that’s been held in Virginia for several years. Again, this is a partnership with the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the AWBA - American Wheelchair Bowling Association.

This year, the tournament is moving to Century Lanes in Hampton, Virginia. This is in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk area; for those booking airline flights, the best options are Norfolk International (ORF) or Newport News/Williamsburg (PHF). The center is about the same distance/driving time from either airport, but NOR will require crossing the Hampton Roads Bridge/Tunnel.

Further, the dates listed on the AWBA website are incorrect; what’s there were anticipated. The tournament will run September 11-12-13. Please plan accordingly.

Century Lanes is undergoing a major overhaul; they are installing new synthetic lanes, bringing all 32 pinsetters to full operation. The settee is being brought level with the approaches and concourse, and both AWBA and PVA leadership have been in touch with the center in anticipation of this event. We will definitely have a better experience for everyone, including bowlers, spectators, organizers, and Up/Down participants.

For those who have previously driven to Short Pump, the new location is about 90 minutes down I-64 to the east.

Additional notes: Within proximity to Century Lanes is the Hampton Coliseum, with its surrounding area including several hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas. The greater Hampton Roads is also home to the Yorktown Battlefield, where Cornwallis surrendered, ending hostilities of the American Revolution.

We look forward to seeing you in Hampton, Virginia this September!

05/28/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share this with you. We lost one of our bowlers in Michael Tucker on May 11th. R.I.P. Michael! You will be missed.

05/13/2026

Best of Luck to all the bowlers! 🏆🎳

03/16/2026

Who’s bowling in the 2026 USBC Open Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada? We’d like to know. Send Grant Buehler FanPage any pictures & information you’d like to share and he will post. His email is [email protected]

03/16/2026

A few hours after the newsletter was emailed, the website became updated to include electronic entries for National.

Therefore, you may register & pay through that means.

Direct link to the registration: https://awba.org/tournaments/upcoming/64th-awba-national-championship/

If you still wish to pay by check and register on paper, that is also possible. Instructions are on the downloadable form that was previously emailed and also included with the newsletter.

Please get your entries in soon, at least your shirt size, so that we can have the appropriate quantity ordered in each size.

Frank W. Goebel II, Secretary
American Wheelchair Bowling Association

03/15/2026

Hello AWBA members and friends,

Registration is now OPEN for the 64th AWBA National Championships.

This year, the tournament dates are May 13 through 16, 2026, at Lucky Strike Romeoville, certified by the The Sport of Bowling – USBC and the AWBA - American Wheelchair Bowling Association.

Before continuing, I'd like to remind everyone that our raffle ticket sale is underway & every member is welcome, even encouraged to participate in selling to help with tournament operations & the prize fund. An AWBA entrant, other than a board member/officer, will receive a rebate of their Singles entry fee ($150) in remuneration for selling one book of tickets. One book is 25 tickets at $20 each, or $500 in sales. Please reach out to chairman Eddy Hutchens at [email protected] & he will get a book to you. For those already selling, you may also request a second book if you are close to finishing your first one.

While our awba.org website has not yet been updated to accept online entries, attached are the entry form (a fillable PDF where one can easily input entry information), a prize list, and an entry poster for the Up/Down.

We're sending this out now to alert you to a few deadlines:

To receive a shirt for the tournament, your entry needs to be in no later than Friday, April 3, so that we can place our order with I AM Bowling. You can edit your entry otherwise afterward if necessary.

Payment & entry deadline is Thursday, April 30.

The tournament will be following the same format as 2025. We have taken steps to avoid scheduling conflicts that resulted in difficulties with last year's Friday squads. For our banquet, we will be returning to Franconi's Distinctly Unique Events, which is less than three miles east of Lucky Strike Romeoville.

Entry fees are unchanged from 2024. For hotels, please make your reservations now; there are several hotels in the greater area.

Those wishing to email the PDF may respond to me directly [email protected], & remit payment online at awba.org/donate.

You may do your own Up/Down entry on the form. If you are recruiting other bowlers for the Up/Down generally, please send them the poster from this email.

We will send a reminder as soon as our web host updates our website, when online entries may be done.

Sincerely,

Frank W. Goebel II, Secretary
American Wheelchair Bowling Association

02/17/2026

Congratulations to our members who have been selected to represent us in Thailand! We are so proud of you all!

Six outstanding athletes have been selected to represent Team USA at the 2026 IBF Para Bowling World Championships, which will be contested from May 1-9 at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl, Siam Paragon, in Bangkok, Thailand. Click here to learn the names of the talented bowlers who will be donning the red, white and blue: https://www.bowl.com/2026_Para_World_Champs_Selections

02/06/2026

It is with sadness that we share the passing of one of our members, Harold Bowman.

01/28/2026

Just to let everyone know,. We lost one of our bowlers in Merv Kaya on January 21st. R.I.P. Merv! You will be missed.