2023 Black & Gold Award
Chris Barnes 1988 Bowling was not a high school sport when Chris attended Topeka High School. He, did, however, participate in football, basketball, track, and golf. He was good enough in basketball that he was a member of the 1986 State Basketball Championship Team. Bowling was the sport he took up very seriously when competing for Wichita State University. In 1998, he became a professional bowler, and that same year he earned the Professional Bowlers Association Rookie of the year. Eventually, he became one of the leading bowlers on tour, earning PBA Player of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008. Chris has won multiple championships, including the “triple crown” of professional bowling – the US Open in 2005, the PBA Tournament of Champions in 2006, and the PBA World Championship in 2010. Additionally, Chris has won five PBA50 titles, including two majors and 28 PBA Regional Titles. Overall, Chris has won 19 PBA Tour Titles and bowled a perfect 300 55 times. Chris has also competed internationally for Team USA. He was the World Tenpin Masters Champion in 2006, is a four-time Gold Medalist at the American Zone Championships and was Team Captain in the 2019 Weber Cup versus Team Europe. Additionally, he has represented the USA at the WTBA Championships, 2009 World Games, and the 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Championships.