Inspiring the next generation Dedicated mentor and coach Naylor-McCall strikes tenpin history By: Ben Little Posted: 2:08 PM CDT Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

Marissa Naylor-McCall made bowling history this year, but her impact on Manitoba’s bowling community transcends time and hardware.

Naylor-McCall became the first woman to win the Marinelli City Singles bowling tournament in its 65-year history.

“I think being the first woman is really cool,” she said. “Also, showcasing that women can compete against the men, and we can hold our own — and that we can also beat them.”

Female representation in sport continues to grow across North America, and Naylor-McCall hopes her win inspires a new generation of women’s athletes.

“Like any sport, (bowling) is more male dominated. But I would also say that women — just like in hockey right now… are really up and coming in that people are starting to watch women a lot more.”

Naylor-McCall has been bowling since she could walk, following in the footsteps of her mom, dad, and sister. She’s represented Team Canada three times as an adult, and once as a youth.

“When I was a kid, I saw all my friends playing volleyball, basketball, soccer, hockey,” she said. “For me, bowling really (shows) that you can travel the world doing what you love.”

Naylor-McCall’s love of the game has led to 15 appearances at the provincial or national level. But in 2015 and 2016, she missed the national championships after several consecutive years representing Manitoba. After seven years of making every national team, she said missing out “was a pretty hard thing to swallow.”

“For me, bowling really (shows) that you can travel the world doing what you love.”–Naylor-McCall

That’s when Naylor-McCall turned her focus to Manitoba’s next generation of bowlers, becoming a mentor-coach with Youth Bowling Manitoba.

“I really believe my life purpose is, I want to leave whatever I’m doing in a better place than I found it,” she said. “That’s exactly what I want to do with bowling.”

Next month, Naylor-McCall and Team Manitoba travel to Quebec City for the 2025 Canadian Tenpin Federation Youth Championships — a tournament she first competed in as an eight-year-old. Mentoring and coaching kids has been a way for her to give back to the sport she loves.

“The biggest thing that I took from that experience was just that, my story can also be shared with kids and can help motivate kids,” she said.

“The sport has given me so much… More than just medals and accomplishments but also travelling the world and meeting a bunch of my best friends from literally across Canada and even into Europe.”

“She’s just one of those great people that you can’t help but cheer for.”–Michael Schmidt

Naylor-McCall said bowling is not just a sport, but a community of people who want to support you.

“Everyone knows what’s going on. Last year I had gotten married, and everyone knew in the bowling community when the wedding was, what I was doing… it’s really special,” she said.

Michael Schmidt, executive director of Bowling Manitoba, said Naylor-McCall’s city championship — while significant — comes as no surprise.

“Marissa has been knocking on the door of winning this event for the last five years or so,” said Schmidt. “It’s super awesome to see that she is the person who basically knocked down the door.”

Schmidt has been a part of Bowling Manitoba since 1987. He remembers first seeing Naylor-McCall when she was an eight-year-old, timidly accepting an award. In 2018, Naylor-McCall beat Schmidt in the semifinal of the same Marinelli City Singles tournament.

“She gives back to her sport by helping our next generation.”–Michael Schmidt

Schmidt said Naylor-McCall’s role as an athlete and mentor has helped grow Manitoba’s bowling community.

“She’s done a lot for our game,” said Schmidt. “She’s represented Manitoba and Canada with tremendous class, and she’s only going to keep doing it.

“Our small bowling community will always be supportive and cheering on Marissa… She’s just one of those great people that you can’t help but cheer for.”

Naylor-McCall’s trip to the Canadian Youth Championships as a coach is another first this year. She also hopes to make her first appearance on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association tour, which runs from May to August.

“A lot of kids look up to her, especially a lot of the young ladies,” said Schmidt. “She gives back to her sport by helping our next generation.”

Naylor-McCall’s historic city championship win is another chapter in her story as a female athlete. At just 27 years old, her story is just starting to unfold.

“I think that with how different our sport is — and the male dominance of it — seeing a woman succeed is more than that,” she said. “It’s showcasing that we can do it as well.”