Bowler Spotlight is an NDBowling.com Series designed to increase bowler recognition and to help others get to know the faces of bowling in North Dakota. This multi-part series will run every other Thursday and will include bowlers from around the state, as well as bowling centers, pro shops, and tournament event staffs. This week, we are going to kick off our coverage of the 2014 Womens State Open Tournament on NDBowlTV by getting to know an icon in ND Womens bowling, Kathy Pausch.
I spent 7 years of my life in the Fargo-Moorhead area attending college, working, and bowling on a regular basis. Having followed all the big men’s tournaments growing up, I had a good idea as to who the better bowlers in the state were. What I quickly realized while living in Fargo was how uneducated I was when it came to Womens bowling in North Dakota. While talking to some of the local bowlers, one name came up quite often in conversation and that was Kathy Pausch.
Kathy Pausch
Hometown: Moorhead, MN (Born in Granite Falls, MN)
Home Bowling Center: The Bowler
Occupation: 37 years in the restaurant industry. Currently works at The Bowler.
Career Achievements:
– FM Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame (2003)
– ND State Women’s Hall of Fame (2005)
– WIBC Division 1 Singles Champion (2002) Tournament currently known as USBC Women’s Open Championships.
– Many local and state handicap titles
– 300 game in 2012
– 818 series in 2006
“Any achievements that I have accomplished would not have happened without great teammates, friends, and my husband” – Kathy P.
What made you start bowling?
“My brother and I would go along with our parents when they bowled in leagues – so we got hooked early in life”
Additional Comments
“One thing I have learned: as good as things can go sometimes, you have to be ready to fail also. This seems to be true in all sports, and it is how we handle the bad times that makes a difference.”
After getting to know Kathy a little bit better, one thing stood out to me. The final comment she made is something I wish many more bowlers would realize. Even with her long list of accomplishments, she attributes some of her success to learning how to deal with failure. Sometimes, us bowlers tend to turn a blind eye to poor performances and not learn from them. I admire Kathy’s commitment and dedication to the game of bowling, and her approach to the game has resulted in great success. Kathy is just one of the many great female bowlers in our state. This Saturday NDBowlTV will be live from the 2014 ND Womens State Open Tournament at North Hill Bowl in Minot. Coverage begins at 12:30 CST and can be accessed by visiting the NDBowling.com Youtube page or by clicking on the “NDBowlTV” logo on the right hand side of your screen.
I would like to thank Kathy for sharing her story with me. I encourage everyone to get to know the many talented female bowlers in our state. Maybe someday, NDBowling.com can create an official Major Championship for the women. With time, anything can happen.