Description

How do you go from quitting the sport you love to becoming a full-time professional bowler? Kelly Whipple’s journey is all about resilience, rediscovery, and rolling with the punches—literally.

Kelly, a Sheboygan, Wisconsin native, first picked up a bowling ball at age 3, but it wasn’t until a coworker at McDonald’s convinced her to join the middle school team that her true bowling journey began. Despite a rocky start, Kelly’s relentless practice paid off—culminating in a high school state championship and a standout collegiate career at UW Whitewater, where she was named D3 Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year.

But the path wasn’t always smooth. After her worst season as a junior, Kelly nearly walked away from the sport. Instead, she started a bowling Instagram to rediscover the fun, connected with new coaches, and made a stunning comeback her senior year. Now, as a full-time pro bowler, she’s turning heads on the lanes and online.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Kelly’s early years and the unlikely McDonald’s moment that brought her back to bowling
• The grind from middle school beginner to high school state champ
• College bowling highs and lows: awards, setbacks, and comebacks
• Living with and caring for her grandparents while chasing her dreams
• How hating to be bad at anything fueled her growth
• Getting sponsored by Kwik Trip and navigating funny online comments
• Bowling through the pandemic (including some epic Wii Bowling)
• The astonishing comeback that changed her pro career trajectory
• Almost becoming an insurance agent—and why she didn’t
• Using social media jobs to level up her own brand
• What it really means to be a professional bowler
• How to choose the right bowling ball, and so much more

If you’re into stories of perseverance, reinvention, and chasing your passion—this episode is for you. 🎳