Freida Gates is a record-setting bowler and one of the finest female players from Central New York. In the 1999 Ocala Association Mixed Tournament in Florida, she rolled a 760 series with her husband Don Gates as they finished with an amazing mixed doubles score of 1,505, the highest total in the nation for that season and the second highest ever.

 

A 1965 graduate of Le Moyne College, Gates rolled her first 600 series in 1969 as she began her bowling career in earnest. Her honors and accomplishments have been many including eight Van Wie double titles. In 1984, she had the highest series (712) in the Women’s International Bowling Congress Tournament. Though not a professional, Gates bowled in a few national pro events. In 1984, she scored a 290-289 victory over WIBC Hall of Fame member Betty Morris, the second highest match game total in LPBT history at the time. Gates was also the first-ever female to qualify for match play in the Herald-Journal Men’s Masters.

 

Gates, who resides in Florida, is a member of the Syracuse Bowling Hall of Fame, the New York State Bowling Hall of Fame and the WASA Hall of Fame. She has bowled four perfect 300 games and became the first SWBA member to roll an 800 series (806 in Baltimore, MD). At the Olympic Festival in Oklahoma City, OK in 1989, Gates captured a gold medal (doubles), silver (single) and bronze (trio). She has won numerous singles, doubles, all events, and team events titles in Syracuse.

 

Gates, who still participates in the NY state women’s tournament, was the first woman to average 200 in the Leesburg Fla. Association and has numerous Ocala tournament titles. In 2007, she rolled a 300 game in Albany and was high qualifier in the NYS Queens. 

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

 

1984: Won WIBC Singles event in Niagara Falls with a 712 series which was the fifth highest series in WIBC history at the time.

 

1985: Became the first woman to carry a 200 average in Syracuse

 

1991: Inducted into the Syracuse Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame

 

1999: With husband Don scored a 1,505 total at Ocala Association Mixed Tournament