Hakim Emmanuel of Stoughton, Massachusetts, admitted that his palms were sweaty and his bowling ball felt heavier than ever as he put the finishing touches on the first perfect game of his bowling career Thursday night, but that was nothing compared to the nerves he felt two games later when he found himself on the verge of history with a chance at a third consecutive 300 game and a 900 series.
The 38-year-old right-hander coolly delivered his 36th consecutive strike during the Thursday Night Patriots Doubles league at Westgate Lanes in Brockton, Massachusetts, making him the 26th bowler in history, and first in the Bay State, to record a perfect series. The achievement is pending approval from the United States Bowling Congress and would be the 27th USBC-approved 900.
"I've gotten close before, but I've never gotten that elusive 300," said Emmanuel, whose previous high game in USBC-certified competition was 290 on two occasions. "The first one last night was one of those moments I'll never forget. After that, I just told myself to stay in the game and stay focused."
What happened next stopped everything at the 62-lane (50 tenpin and 12 candlepin) center, and all of the 32-team doubles league rallied behind Emmanuel to watch him claim his spot in the Massachusetts and USBC record books.
Not only had perfection eluded Emmanuel, who has been bowling competitively since he was 15, but he also hadn't eclipsed the 800 mark in a three-game series.
"Toward the end of the second 300, in the back of my mind, I was wondering if it was real and if I could do it again," said Emmanuel, who entered the night with a 217 average for 25 weeks in the league. "People stopped bowling as I entered the 10th frame of the last game, and I just reminded myself that I'd made it that far, so throw another good shot and see what happens."
Emmanuel has improved nearly 20 pins in average since last season and attributes that to the help and pro shop guidance of amateur standout Alex Aguiar and the staff at Strike F/X Pro Shops as well as countless hours watching the sport's top bowlers on various live-streaming outlets.
"I've always stayed in the game and always wanted to excel," Emmanuel said. "This is a feeling that's incredible and something I may never feel again. It was so surreal, and I had to pinch myself to believe it was true. I'm still speechless."
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