Who We Are

I began my bowling at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. In 2010, I entered my first National Tournament and I believe placed 3rd. I have bowled with the former PVA New England Rollers for the past 13 years. The League recently became the New England Rollers and continue to bowl at Boston Bowl – Hanover. I am proud to have represented Para Team USA for the first ever World Para Bowling in event in Dubai, UAE (2021) and again January 2025 in Hong Kong, China.  

I am a member of PVA Bowling, American Wheelchair Bowlers of America (AWBA) and Wheelchair Bowlers of America (WBOA).  I enjoy bowling and hope to continue to represent Team USA in the future.  

My name is Dave McGinnes, I am the Vice President of membership for the WBOA.

I started bowling in the mid 70's, I am a certified coach, I didn't start bowling from a wheelchair until 2018, I was on my local bowling association as a board member and 1st Vice President for nearly 30 years. I was elected to our local USBC Hall of Fame in December of 2024. I am currently bowling in 2 leagues and am the only wheelchair bowler in my area. 

I have been involved with bowling since 1978. I started volunteering for wheel chair bowling around 1979. I began running the local wheelchair bowling league in 1990 and still run the New England Rollers League.

I have been on numerous bowling groups, Tri-City Women’s BBA, Bristol/Plymouth USBC, Massachusetts Women’s Bowling Association, and still on the Massachusetts USBC. I have at one time or another held the office of Director, Secretary, Vice President and President. I am currently a Vice President on the Massachusetts USBC. I have coached youth bowlers for over 20 years.

My honors include Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service at the local, state and youth bowling associations. I am an Honorary Lifetime member of the New England Paralyzed Veterans of America (NEPVA).

Bowling has been in my blood most all of my life, I was a bowler before my paralysis. I started at the age of 10 and continued bowling through the years. When I was discharged from the Air Force, I bowled in leagues and tournaments with an average from 205 to 212. In 1987, I bowled a sanctioned 300 in league play. I had to stop bowling in early 2000’s due to my paralysis. I found out about wheelchair bowling in 2016 and began to get back into the game bowling from my wheelchair. In February 2025, I bowled my 2nd sanctioned 300 in a sanctioned league, this time from a wheelchair. I became the 3rd wheelchair bowler to roll a sanctioned 300 from a chair but the only bowler in history to have a 300 standing and sitting.

I served 4 years in the US Air Force as a crew chief on both the A-7 and A-10 aircraft. I enlisted in July 1976 and was discharged with an honorable discharge in July 1980. I met the person who would design the WBOA Organization through wheelchair bowling and assisted him in the ideas put forth to let other people know how we would help and teach newly injured people or people who did not know that bowling was an option from a wheelchair. The WBOA Organization was started to enable teaching, assisting, setting up tournaments, and advertising the sport to all who may benefit from enjoying this activity.