Ebonite

Mar 03, 2010

Kelly Kulick has had some pretty life altering experiences in the last few weeks.

She became the first woman to compete in a Professional Bowlers Association major title championship, which she went on to win against one of the top male bowlers. Following that win, she was volleyed around morning shows and heralded as bowling’s Billie Jean King, despite some very notable differences.

King’s win came in the tumultuous time of the women’s liberation movement and against masochistic male chauvinist, Bobby Riggs. Also, the Battle of the Sexes was for entertainment and status, a one-time thing, whereas the PBA Tournament of Champions is an annual event.

Nevertheless, Kulick’s win was viewed as a giant step forward for women, bowling, and most of all, for women in bowling. And, she is fine being pitted as a role model for any female aspiring to compete in any sport at any level.

“I’ve admired the work ethics of other great athletes and have aspired to be like them. I think we all have heroes,” she said. “Billie Jean (King) changed the face of tennis as we now see it; if I can have the same affect on bowling, so be it. I am willing to take on the responsibility as long as we all receive the recognition.”

But Kulick’s story began long before her face off with Chris Barnes in the Tournament of Champions.

The story of Kelly Kulick began when she was 6, when she began bowling in her first league. Her best friend’s father was manager of a Union, N.J., bowling center that was trying to increase league participation, so she signed up and attended every Saturday, she said.

“For the longest time I wanted to be a professional bowler,” Kulick said. “I remember my fifth grade teacher going around the room and asking each student what they wanted to be when they grew up. Under my picture, it says professional bowler.”

The dream to become a pro bowler cemented when she was a senior in high school she said when her passion for basketball began diminishing.

“I wanted to have a career after college that was sport related,” she said.

Kulick attended Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., where she was a three-time collegiate player of the year and two-time All-American. From there, she began her professional career representing Ebonite on the now defunct Professional Women’s Bowling Tour where she was the 2001 Rookie of the Year. She also won the 2003 Women’s U.S. Open.

After the PWBA folded in 2003, Kulick began bowling in the PBA Eastern Region, in which she cashed in 12 of 14 events. In 2006, she became the first woman to earn a PBA tour exemption, once again representing Ebonite. Although she had a successful year, she was unable to keep her exemption.

In 2007, after competing in a pro-am event with the daughter a writer of the Marvel Comic Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, she became a supporting character in the comic as friend and former girlfriend of Flash Thompson.

The loss of her exemption, though, has taught her what is truly important in life.

“As a person, I have strong values and believe that family comes first,” she said. “There is nothing more important to me than my immediate family.”

In her spare time, she enjoys country line dancing and recreating recipes by substituting spices and seasonings.

“I work out five or six days a week when I am home,” she said. “I do cardio, weight training, and yoga. All have benefitted me as a bowler, but more importantly, as a person.”

Doing for one’s self is the lesson the loss of her exemption taught her.

“During the last three years, I have come to the belief that you have to be selfish sometimes,” she said. “I often set aside my own happiness or take time out of my schedule to help others. I finally learned to put Kelly first. Now, I am more energetic, more enthusiastic about life and over all, a happier person.”

After her Tournament of Champions win, Kulick rejoined the Ebonite team. In the years she was not on staff, her heart was never far from the company. Five of her six professional titles were won using the brand’s equipment.

“I am thrilled to represent Ebonite again,” she said. “It was an honor and a privilege to be part of the greatest female staff ever put together. Over the years, I have continued to use their equipment and have success. They were vital in my success during the World Series of Bowling and I have developed a solid relationship with the brand managers and the fellow pro staffers.”

But, she said, her position at Ebonite is far from a job.

“Ebonite is not having a job, it’s being part of a family,” she said. “I am proud to be part of the Ebonite team.”

Ebonite Brand Manager Ed Gallagher said the feeling is mutual.

“Ebonite has always been a supporter of Kelly and we are thrilled to have her back on board,” he said. “Kelly is one of the most talented bowlers I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with and I look forward to working with her again.”

— Based in Hopkinsville, Ky., Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that currently services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally. The company’s consumer product brands include Ebonite, Hammer, Robby’s, Columbia 300, Track and Powerhouse™; its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.

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