There is a case in B.C. bowling circles where rolling a perfect 450 game – 12 straight strikes – isn’t officially recognized.
And Vernon bowler Trevor Rachwalski, unfortunately, found it. The 34-year-old floor layer was unable to make a recent regular Wednesday night league game. So, as league rules state, bowlers are encouraged to “roll off” – bowl three games – at a time that works for them prior to the league match. The scores in those three games are counted toward league results.
However, provincial rules state that a perfect 450 game bowled during a roll off will not be recognized as such.
And it was during his roll off that Rachwalski was perfect.
“It doesn’t really bother me that it isn’t officially recognized,” said Rachwalski. “It’s nice to have recognition when you do it during league. Still, it was 12 strikes in a row.”
Because the provincial bowling body won’t recognize the result, Rachwalski missed out on $2,800 (the prize for rolling a perfect game during league play), an invitation to the year-end provincial 400 club tournament and a lifetime invitation to the event for rolling a perfect game.
Rachwalski’s perfection came in the second of his three roll-off games on lanes one and two at Lincoln Lanes.
Normally, league play takes anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours to complete when bowling with teammates and against another squad. You roll your ball, then wait your turn.
In the roll off, Rachwalski – bowling alone – was done in less than 30 minutes, and took only about five minutes to roll his perfect game.
“When you’re rolling off, if you get into a groove, by about the fourth or fifth strike, you start thinking maybe (about a perfect game),” he said.
“I wasn’t bowling too fast, I was going at a good pace. When rolling off you know once you feel good, you keep doing the same thing.”
Three times in his career – he started bowling at age three – Rachwalski has started a game with 10 straight strikes, two balls away from 450.
Twice, on the 11th ball, he hit the head (middle) pin. The third time, he missed the middle.
On this occasion, he was still perfect after 11 balls.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” said Rachwalski of rolling that final ball. “I wanted to do what I normally do and hope it goes right. I wasn’t sure when I let it go, but I did enough right to get it in the pocket and knock them all down.”
Lincoln Lanes was a bit busy at the time – a mid-week, mid-afternoon league was wrapping up – and proprietors Gord Wiffen and Lisa Lauzon, and employee Zane Carswell, were on hand for Rachwalski’s, er, ‘faux-50.’
“I was excited,” he smiled. “The first person I heard was Lisa cheering for me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anybody bowling a perfect game in a pre-bowl.”
Rachwalski opened with a 249 and finished with a 207 for a 906 triple (scores of all three games). The right-hander currently carries a 246 average.
It was his second 400 game at Lincoln Lanes to go with four others rolled at the old Polson Bowling Centre.
Rachwalski has come full-circle in the sport he has enjoyed both competitively and recreationally for 31 years. He now coaches his two sons – Lukas, six and Talan, four – in YBC (Youth Bowling Council), which is where things began for Rachwalski.
On this particular YBC afternoon, it’s Pyjamas Day, so the Rachwalski boys are decked out in their finest nightwear.
“They look forward to it every week, they love it,” said Rachwalski of his boys. “This is where I started and made lifelong friendships. A lot of friends are still out here bowling.”
Sandi Soroka is the YBC director at Lincoln Lanes, her home away from home (her parents bought the bowling alley in 1969). Her own kids started bowling when they were three.
“We promote fun,” said Soroka. “That’s the most important thing.”
Youth bowling runs from September to April. It’s open to kids aged four to 19. Sessions go Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.
“We offer an outstanding program that is affordable and fun,” said Soroka. “Qualified coaches share their skill, knowledge and love of bowling each week.”
“Team spirit, sportsmanship and camaraderie are focused on.”