The PWBA Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026, with three new members
set to be inducted during tournament week of the United States Bowling
Congress Queens in May.
Two inductees were selected in the
Performance category, while one was chosen in the Meritorious Service and
Builder category.
Kelly Kulick and Cara Honeychurch will be inducted for their success as
competitors, while Leila Wagner will be recognized for both her bowling career
and her many years of contribution to the sport beyond the lanes.
The
induction ceremony will take place on May 13, 2026, at the Gold Coast Hotel
and Casino in Las Vegas, alongside the USBC Queens tournament, which runs from
May 13 to May 19.
A Legend Both on PWBA and PBA
Kelly Kulick built a long career that spans collegiate bowling, professional
competition, and international play.
She joined the PWBA Tour in
2001 after a successful college career at Morehead State. That same year, she
earned Rookie of the Year honors and finished among the tour leaders in both
points and earnings.
Kulick won five major championships during
her career, including titles at the Queens and the U.S. Women’s Open.
In 2010, she made history by becoming the first woman to win a PBA
Tour title when she captured the Tournament of Champions.
Kullick
later added two more PWBA titles after the tour returned in 2015. Kulick also
represented Team USA on 1998-2001, 2008, and 2010-2021, won multiple
international gold medals. She currently serves as the head coach of Junior
Team USA and assistant coach of the Team USA.
Australia's Bowling Icon
Cara Honeychurch joined the PWBA Tour in 1999 after early international
success for Australia.
Before turning professional, she won the
AMF World Cup and earned gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. On the PWBA
Tour, she quickly became a regular presence on television and won several
titles, including major events.
Honeychurch earned Rookie of the
Year honors in 2000 and remained a top competitor through the early 2000s.
She claimed eight career PWBA titles and received recognition for
both performance and sportsmanship. After the tour paused, she returned to
Australia and later served as the chief executive officer of Tenpin Bowling
Australia.
A Voice of Women's Bowling
Leila Wagner earned her place in the PWBA Hall of Fame through her work as a
competitor, broadcaster, and ambassador for bowling.
As a
professional bowler, she made numerous television finals and won two career
titles.
She later became a familiar voice and face of women’s
professional bowling as a lead announcer and commentator during televised
events for more than a decade.
Wagner also traveled extensively to
promote bowling through clinics, exhibitions, and public appearances. Her work
helped bring women’s bowling to a wider audience across multiple countries.
With
the addition of the Class of 2026, the PWBA Hall of Fame will include 54
members across all categories. The upcoming induction continues the Hall of
Fame’s role in recognizing both competitive success and long-term service to
professional women’s bowling.
For more information visit
pwba.com
