Haley Swindle Climbs the Ladder to Victory at 2023 PWBA Northern Colorado Regional

A Slow Start Turns into a Championship Win

Haley Swindle of Sharpsburg, Georgia, had a challenging start in the qualifying rounds, but she managed to secure the fourth seed and made an impressive climb up the stepladder to win her first Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Regional title. The tournament took place at Highland Park Lanes in Greeley, Colorado, on Saturday, marking a major milestone in Swindle’s young career.

“This is definitely at the top of my list of accomplishments so far,” Swindle said after her victory. “This tournament had the highest level of competition I’ve gone up against.”

At just 17 years old, Swindle, a future Nebraska bowling team member, overcame a series of tough opponents, including Senior Team USA member Sharon Powers, Junior Team USA’s Avery Domaguin, and PWBA bowler Giselle Poss.

Stepladder Matches: Youth Triumphs Over Experience

Swindle began her journey in the stepladder finals with a match against Sharon Powers, where she demonstrated composure beyond her years. The match was competitive throughout, but two open frames by Powers proved costly. Swindle stayed clean, finishing with 209, while Powers ended at 179, securing Swindle’s advancement. Powers took home $525 for her fourth-place finish.

The semifinal match against Avery Domaguin was another test. Both players started strong with turkeys, but Domaguin’s open frame in the fourth gave Swindle an opportunity. Swindle kept her game steady until a minor mistake in the seventh frame, but Domaguin then missed a 7-pin spare, allowing Swindle to capitalize by striking out. She won the match 231-215, moving on to the championship match. Domaguin earned $675 for her third-place finish.

Championship Battle: Swindle’s Strategy Prevails

Swindle’s final challenge was against Giselle Poss, who had dominated the qualifying rounds, leading the field by more than 10 pins per game. Poss posted impressive scores of 222, 279, and 268 in her last three qualifying games, thanks to her ability to adjust to lane conditions effectively.

However, the championship match told a different story. Poss struggled early, opening with two splits and never fully recovering. Swindle, on the other hand, stuck to her up-the-lane approach, keeping her game simple and effective. She had only one open frame and finished with six consecutive strikes, securing the title with a 223-167 victory. Poss earned $825 as the runner-up.

A Breakthrough Moment for Swindle

Reaching the stepladder finals was already a significant achievement for Swindle, as she finished her last four games with a total score of 919 to claim the final spot in the top four. She credited her improvement to learning how to calm her nerves after a slow start.

“Once I calmed down, I was able to execute my shots better than I was during the first four games,” Swindle said. “I was then able to put what I learned in those last four games into the stepladder and trust the process.”

Swindle’s victory not only earned her $1,650 but also secured her an automatic spot in the PWBA Regional Showdown, scheduled for December 7-9. Interestingly, the previous winner of the Regional Showdown was Julia Bond, who is now an assistant coach at Nebraska—Swindle’s future college coach.

Looking ahead, Swindle remains focused on continuous improvement. “The goal in the short run now is to continue to do well in tournaments and keep working on my physical and mental game, looking towards competing on the tour after college,” she said.

With her impressive performance and strong mindset, Haley Swindle is a rising star to watch in the world of professional bowling.