100-Year-Old Bowler Awarded on Live! With Regis and Kelly
Emma Hendrickson, a 100-year-old bowling sensation from Morris Plains, N.J., once again found herself in the spotlight as she won the Sensational Senior award from "Live! With Regis and Kelly" earlier this week.
Hendrickson's rise to fame started in April when she competed at the 2009 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships in Reno, Nev. She became the oldest participant in tournament history, breaking her tie with Ethel Brunnick of Santa Monica, Calif., who competed in the 1987 event in Hartford, Conn., at 99 years old.
Word of Hendrickson's achievement spread quickly as video of her bowling at the USBC Women's Championships made its way onto ESPN Top 10 Plays and ESPNEWS. This followed with a challenge from television personality Regis Philbin.
The Philbin-Hendrickson bowling match aired on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" in May.
Philbin ended up with the higher score at the end of the match, but Hendrickson earned the admiration of a brand new audience.
Upon receiving the award, Hendrickson had a few heartfelt words for all of those who watched the show and helped her win the award.
"The biggest word is thank you. And if I don't say thank you now, it's never too late to say thank you," Hendrickson said. "This was an experience that I never thought I would ever see."
Hendrickson said on the telecast that she was still active on the lanes. She already has signed up to compete at the 2010 Women's Championships in El Paso, Texas. When she takes to the tournament lanes, it will mark her 51st appearance at the event.
