Kuhlkin Sets National Record with 890 Series

Lizabeth Kuhlkin, a member of the Nebraska bowling team from 2011 to 2015, set a United States women's national record for a three-game series with a score of 890 in the Reis Group Kim Brown Memorial League at Towne Bowling Academy in Schenectady, N.Y. on Monday evening.

Kuhlkin, a three-time NTCA All-American and the 2015 National Collegiate Bowler of the Year as a Husker, bowled two-consecutive 300 games to open her round before leaving an 8 pin in the first frame of her final game. After converting a spare, the Schenectady, N.Y., native finished with 11-consecutive strikes for a score of 290.

“I never thought that I would be able to strike enough to bowl something like this,” Kuhlkin said. “To be able to do this in front of my community is such an amazing accomplishment for me. This one was special in doing it in front of my parents and the people that watched me grow up. That was really a nice feat to go along with bowling the 890.”

Her score broke the previous series record of 889, which was set earlier this year by Erica Cutler of Fort Wayne, Ind., on Feb. 24. Kuhlkin’s achievement is pending approval from the United States Bowling Congress.

A member of Nebraska’s 2013 and 2015 NCAA championship teams, Kuhlkin ranks second in program history with a 210.904 career average. She was named Nebraska’s first-ever Female Athlete of the Year across all sports in 2015. Kuhlkin joined the Professional Women’s Bowling Association in 2015 and won the 2015 PWBA Topeka Open.

“I can’t say enough about the time I spent at Nebraska and the two NCAA championships we won,” Kuhlkin said. “Coach (Bill) Straub and Coach (Paul) Klempa definitely helped mold me into the player I am today and helped me to accomplish the things that I've accomplished after I graduated.”