
By Patrick Lujan

Erin McCarthy is a professional bowler in the WPBA and has roots on Guam. She’s also a nurse in Nebraska. (photo courtesy of Omaha World-Herald)
Chalk up another one of stateside athletes with Guam roots.
Professional women’s bowler Erin McCarthy lives far away in Omaha, Nebraska, but her roots are deep down in southern Guam.
“My entire mom’s side of the family is from Guam,” the 28 year old said. “My grandparents were born there. My immediate family currently lives here in the states, but I still have several relatives that live in Guam.”
Her grandmother is Carmen Carbullido originally from Inarajan and grandfather Harry Carbullido orginally from Agat. Her parents are Doug and Kathy McCarthy.
She just so happens to be second cousins with softball star Bubba Nickles. Her grandma Carmen is the older sister of Bubba’s grandfather on her mom Natalie’s Familian Cabesa.
“My grandma lives here in Omaha and my grandfather passed away several years ago. I still have several relatives in Guam including cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles. The majority of my immediate family all live here in Omaha, though.”
The Start of Bowling
McCarthy actually started bowling at the tender age of 2. It wasn’t until her mid teenage years that she took the sport seriously when she realized she could get a collegiate scholarship rolling the bowl.
“I bowled in college while getting my bachelor’s degree in Biology (2012) and Nursing (2013). There wasn’t a professional women’s bowling tour when I graduated from nursing school in 2013 so I ended up getting a job as a nurse in a hospital setting at the beginning of 2014.
The Professional Women’s Bowling Tour resurrected in 2015 after a 13-year hiatus and she’s been competing as a pro since while still working in the hospital.
In June, McCarthy won her first ever PWBA title in the Louisville Open, winning the first place prize of $10,000. So far, she has a career earning of over $75,000 and has come in the top 10 in five of the seven tournaments she’s competed in this year. There are three more tournaments on the season still to come.
Team USA

Erin and Jakob Butturff represented the USA at the 2017 World Cup in Mexico. (courtesy photo)
Like any other athlete, there’s no better feeling than representing your country in the sport you love. And like her cousin Bubba, she’s earned the right to wear USA across her chest.
Erin has been able to do it for three straight years from 2015 to 2017 for Team USA. In 2017, she was the only female to represent the USA at the World Cup!
“To qualify for Team USA we have team trials in January each year. Men and women bowl five days of competition, each on a different oil pattern. At the end of the week the top 3 women and top 3 men automatically earn spots. The remaining players are selected by the coaching staff based on resumes, team trials performance and past performances in all competitions. There are typically 12 women and 12 men on each team. In 2017, I won team trials which meant I got to go to the the World Cup. Only one female and one male from each country attend the event.”
She intends to earn a spot back on Team USA for 2019 and her second professional title.
ICU Nurse
When not mowing down the pins, McCarthy works at two different hospitals in Omaha as an intensive care nurse as well as in a critical care unit.
” I tend to be a very laid back person. I don’t get stressed easily and actually enjoy high pressure situations. I feel like my bowling career and nursing career go hand in hand many times just due to these aspects. Both are a constant learning process and I love being able to gain more knowledge to become better at both.”
Like Bubba, Erin has never been to Guam and hopes to one day fulfill her dream of visiting her family more than 7000 miles away in the Pacific Ocean.
“I’ve never been to Guam, but would love to go sometime. I’ve heard several stories about how beautiful it is.”
300: Erin stopped counting but she thinks she has around 20 perfect games so far…


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
12th
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

Basketball
BULLDOGS WIN BATTLE OF 4-0 TEAMS

Baseball
MUNA LEADS DODGERS TO TOURNEY FINALS

MMA/Boxing
JONES TO FACE FORMER UFC CHAMPION

Baseball
GECKOS SWING BIG IN SEASON OPENER

Baseball
FRIARS EDGE ROYALS IN PITCHER’S DUEL

Basketball
FRIARS TAKE DOWN PANTHERS 74-68

Running/Track
GECKOS, SHARKS BUILDING TRACK CONFIDENCE

Basketball
BULLDOGS WIN BATTLE OF 4-0 TEAMS
COMING SOON …
- Trevin Jones vs. Cody Garbrandt
- Ricky Camp vs. WIlson Reis