Manitobans eager to strike gold on world stage

Already making history earlier this year when she became the first woman to win the Marinelli City Singles bowling tournament, Marissa Naylor-McCall is now bolstering her training routine as she prepares to represent Team Canada at the 2025 International Bowling Federation World Championships.

Naylor-McCall is one of two Manitobans representing Canada at the adult level, alongside Mitch Hupé. Both bowlers attended the last world championships in Kuwait in 2023, where every Team Canada bowler brought home a medal.

“It was a record year for Canada… we all brought home a medal which hasn’t happened in many years,” said Naylor-McCall.

This is Naylor-McCall’s fourth year representing Team Canada as an adult, and her second World Championships tournament. She spoke highly of her teammate Hupé — a three-time National Bowler of the Year — who returns for his 12th adult year.

“(Hupé) has lived and breathed it his whole life,” she said. “He can basically do it all.”

Hupé bowled at Wichita State in college, one of the most renowned bowling programs in North America, with 24 Intercollegiate Team Championships between the men’s and women’s programs.

Naylor-McCall said Hupé was the anchor for team Canada during the 2023 IBF World Championships, where the men took home gold in the team event for the first time.

“He’s a phenomenal person but even better bowler,” she said. “He’s a phenom in the bowling community here in Manitoba.”

Hupé bowls on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour, where Naylor-McCall will be taking her talents beginning next season. Excited for the opportunity, she isn’t letting it distract her from her current goal — to win gold in Hong Kong.

“I’m excited for next year, but Hong Kong is definitely the focus for right now,” said Naylor-McCall. “Then we’ll set our eyes on (the PBA tour) next year.”

Team Canada head coach Tyrel Rose, who re-joined the team in late 2023, said the team is eager to fight for their place on the podium.

“There is a bit of a chip on the shoulder,” said Rose. “There’s definitely a bit of a ‘we still want to prove ourselves’ attitude.”

Several countries didn’t participate in the 2023 world championships, held in Kuwait, for political reasons.

“I think when you can come in as a world champion and still come in with an underdog mentality, you’re doing something right,” said Rose.

Rose said he and Naylor-McCall hit the ground running in their professional relationship.

“We kind of hit it off really well as a coach and an athlete,” said Rose.

“(Naylor-McCall) is very driven. She works really hard at everything she does, whether it’s her business, whether it’s bowling, or golf,” said Rose. “She’s like a sponge, she just wants all the coaching all of the time.”

He said her leadership is an asset given the women’s team’s lack of experience.

“(Naylor-McCall) brings that kind of professional energy to the team,” said Rose. “To have that leadership… she brings that to the team as if she was a 10-year veteran.”

Rose said Hupé, who won a World Masters Gold in 2018, hasn’t lost his touch.

“He’s still grown from there and developed a sense of confidence in himself that he didn’t have five, six, seven years ago,” said Rose. “He really knows what his strengths are and knows how to play to them.”

Rose was an assistant coach for Team Canada from 2009-12, he head coached from 2014-18, before taking some time off to spend with his family. He said the connection he shares with his team is invaluable.

“One of the things that’s always driven me is getting to share in this experience with our players,” said Rose. “That kind of emotional connection, the highs and the lows, it’s great.”

Michael Schmidt, executive director of the Manitoba Tenpin Federation, said he expects the two Manitoba veterans to make the province proud in Hong Kong.

“They have experience, they’ve represented Canada numerous times… they know how to get the job done, and I just wish them as much success as possible — and, to bring home some more gold medals,” said Schmidt.

For Naylor-McCall, bringing home gold in the singles event is high on her priority list. But winning as a team is her biggest wish.

“The ultimate goal always for these events is winning gold in the team event,” she said. “I know on the women’s side we haven’t medalled in the team event for a long time.

“We just have to trust in the preparation. If we can keep it simple… and just do what we do best, I’m sure that getting on the podium will be pretty easy for us.”

The IBF World Championships start rolling in Hong Kong on Nov. 24.