I started late during the end of Covid times, on or around 1/16/2021.
At that time, current avg. 91.
Currently in 2026, my house shot league average is 165 and sport shot 141.
So far, I’ve been to bowling alleys in about 7 different states and 1 international (Ecuador).
Bowling is an excellent hobby and sport, and I enjoy playing with people who have been bowling all their lives. There’s so much to learn in bowling, and I’ve absorbed material from over 5 books to find out how to do the best shots. I’ve met with pro bowlers Verity Crawley, Bryanna Coté, and Sean Rash at Brock’s Bowl in Penn Yan, NY, USA. Current arsenal includes a Storm Ice (inactive), Global UFO (inactive), Global Zen, Motiv Revolt orange, Storm DNA Coil, and a Patriots plastic spare ball bought at North Country Bowling near Milan, NH. [*since start of site, since acquired Roto Grip’s Attention Star from performing Auburn All-Stars Junior Gold USBC Coaching, and been using Storm 78/U Urethane for spares when not using Storm’s Pitch Black. September 2026]
My home alley is Auburn’s old AMF, now Bowlero, in MA. I also tend to take my risks and bowl in Shrewsbury Bowlero’s lanes and learn with well-known local coach Gerard Richardson when he’s not having a cola at the bar. Fortunate to have first coach Dave Umbrello prevent me from using a backup ball, though we are both lefties by nature. Played in the Auburn Fun Lovers league a couple years, and on my fifth year in Thursday nights co-ed Sportsman, winning the season with first-time all women’s team The Foxxes: Karen Jasper, Amy Gorgievski, and Julia Tutiven.
Anyway, many people like to hear about bowlers who have dedicated their entire lives to the sport. I found it a little later in the game and become serious early on. I have played sports my entire life, soccer for 12 years (as goalie), softball for 6 years (catcher), field hockey (goalie), track (long-distance), rugby (UMass Amherst), dodgeball (recreational), pickleball (recreational) and swimming (YMCA).
It is my privilege to bowl with those who have been a part of leagues, alleys, and teams for decades or been playing since childhood. Despite this, I hope to inspire those who have been enjoying it for all their lives, and for those who are new and learning it. I enjoy meeting new people during tournaments and just started experiencing Nationals in 2023. Dave’s wife, Karen Umbrello, was my first doubles partner!
It is my goal to be an excellent bowler with distant pipe dreams of Pro bowling. Whether I get there or not, it’s a journey. Afterall, as a Pro, they expect you to strike every frame. As long as that is still fun for me, I may aspire to be on tour one day. However, the key, like in life, is to never give up.
Photo: Sean Rash, Me, Verity Crawley, Bryanna Coté in Penn Yan, NY USA.
Above Photo: Me, Kurt Brockman, Brock’s Bowl, Penn Yan, NY USA.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned!
-Rena Celeste
What does your map look like? Made with https://mapline.com/.
Photo: My Bowling Stops/Lanes I’ve Conquered/Bowling Destinations/Places I’ve Hit the Lanes/My Bowling Trail
MA
CT
RI
VT
NV
NY
CA
Ecuador
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