Kats sign British bowling standout
5/16/2025 2:28:00 PM | Women's Bowling
HUNTSVILLE — Head coach Brad Hagen and the nationally ranked Sam Houston bowling program is pleased to announce the signing of Jessica Sillis for the 2025-26 season.
Sillis, from Northamptonshire, England, will join the Bearkats as one of the most decorated youth athletes to come out of England and has been ranked the No. 1 youth female bowler for the last four years from 2021-2024. She was also tabbed as the BTBA Youth Female Bowler Of the Year in 2023.
Currently Sillis is a National Team member for both the youth where she will represent England at the World Youth Cup this summer in Helsingborg, Sweden, and the adult team. She has been competing at the local, national and international stage since she was 11 years old. At the age of 13, she made the Youth National Team for the first time and at the age of 16 she made the adult National Team.
"Jessica's resume and success on the lanes competitively is what we are looking for each year to add to our talented diverse roster," Hagen said. "She's competed against the world's best, on some of the biggest stages for her nation as a youth and adult member, which will only add another key experienced piece to our team contending year in and out."
On the lanes, Sillis has a resume to fill up pages. Since 2019 at the Youth Triple Crown events alone, she has medaled 27 times with nothing less than a silver. At her first Adult Triple Crown event representing England in 2024, she continued her medaling ways by adding three golds and a silver. At the 2024 European Youth Championships, she added a gold medal in doubles, a bronze in singles and finished fourth overall.
"I am always looking for individuals who are willing to continue their journey with our perennial program and look at Sam Houston as an opportunity to change their trajectory," Hagen said "It's a great time to be a Bearkat and on a roster with like-minded individuals who are ready to show up and get to work which is exactly what she was looking for so late into the process.
"Jessica is competitive, and her resume proves that. Passionate and hungry. She wants to win, and she knows most importantly how to win. She has high expectations to excel on and off the lanes and that will allow her to transition into the collegiate bowling world. She's a great piece to add to our young returning hungry competitive roster."
Sillis is the 16th international bowler from the 14th different country to join the Bearkats, going into their 16th season. She will also be the 20th Sam Houston student-athlete to have represented their National Team as a Bearkat.
Sillis, from Northamptonshire, England, will join the Bearkats as one of the most decorated youth athletes to come out of England and has been ranked the No. 1 youth female bowler for the last four years from 2021-2024. She was also tabbed as the BTBA Youth Female Bowler Of the Year in 2023.
Currently Sillis is a National Team member for both the youth where she will represent England at the World Youth Cup this summer in Helsingborg, Sweden, and the adult team. She has been competing at the local, national and international stage since she was 11 years old. At the age of 13, she made the Youth National Team for the first time and at the age of 16 she made the adult National Team.
"Jessica's resume and success on the lanes competitively is what we are looking for each year to add to our talented diverse roster," Hagen said. "She's competed against the world's best, on some of the biggest stages for her nation as a youth and adult member, which will only add another key experienced piece to our team contending year in and out."
On the lanes, Sillis has a resume to fill up pages. Since 2019 at the Youth Triple Crown events alone, she has medaled 27 times with nothing less than a silver. At her first Adult Triple Crown event representing England in 2024, she continued her medaling ways by adding three golds and a silver. At the 2024 European Youth Championships, she added a gold medal in doubles, a bronze in singles and finished fourth overall.
"I am always looking for individuals who are willing to continue their journey with our perennial program and look at Sam Houston as an opportunity to change their trajectory," Hagen said "It's a great time to be a Bearkat and on a roster with like-minded individuals who are ready to show up and get to work which is exactly what she was looking for so late into the process.
"Jessica is competitive, and her resume proves that. Passionate and hungry. She wants to win, and she knows most importantly how to win. She has high expectations to excel on and off the lanes and that will allow her to transition into the collegiate bowling world. She's a great piece to add to our young returning hungry competitive roster."
Sillis is the 16th international bowler from the 14th different country to join the Bearkats, going into their 16th season. She will also be the 20th Sam Houston student-athlete to have represented their National Team as a Bearkat.
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