Team Turbo Staff Member Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio, became the first bowler since the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour relaunched to clinch the Triple Crown — United States Bowling Congress Queens, U.S. Women’s Open and PWBA Tour Championship — after defeating Germany’s Birgit Noreiks, 247-221, at the season-ending Tour Championship at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.
The victory added another milestone to Martin’s already impressive resume, earning her a fifth career title and third major and making her eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame in the Performance category when she turns 40. At 22 years, 24 days old, Martin also became the youngest bowler to earn a Triple Crown and win three career majors in PWBA history, surpassing marks previously held by PWBA Hall of Famers Wendy Macpherson (22 years, nine months, 20 days) and Aleta Sill (22 years, eight months, two days), respectively.
“It’s shocking,” Martin said of becoming a five-time champion with three major titles at 22. “I would not necessarily expect to be here. Have I imagined being here? Did I know it could happen? 100%. But I never truly, truly was like, ‘Wow, this is going to happen, and it’s going to happen now.’”
Martin’s Triple Crown joins an already impressive list of accomplishments at 22, but she said she remains grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside the legends who came before her.
“To hear those names and to know that I’ve now done this incredible feat before even they did, I’m honestly shocked standing here,” Martin said. “I’m so grateful that the PWBA is here, and I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to compete.”
“I’m not necessarily trying to win. I’m trying to be my best,” Martin said. “So if I’m not my best, it’s going to bother me, and I’m going to want to keep putting in the work to be somewhere where I feel like I’m at my best at whatever given point that is.”
The victory also gave Martin an accomplishment she had long pursued, but she said she has shifted her mindset away from focusing solely on milestones.
“I always wanted to be the youngest to win on the PWBA Tour,” Martin said. “But once I did that, I kind of lost who I was for a minute. I was like, ‘OK, well, now that I’ve done this, what’s next?’ I think goals are great, but, to some degree, once you fulfill them, there can be such a big letdown.”
Instead, Martin said she wants to continue enjoying the sport and pursuing improvement.
“I want to have fun, and I want to bowl well, and I want to show how fun bowling can be,” Martin said. “I just want to keep coming out here, keep doing that, keep being my best self and just being in constant pursuit.”
Martin was the only bowler to win twice during the 2026 PWBA National Tour season, continuing a streak that began in 1963. Her title-match victory also was her 10th consecutive stepladder match win, dating to her 2024 USBC Queens run.