Sweet 16 Lanes in Le Mars was home to an incredible week of bowling for one Le Mars resident. Alex Burnett bowled his first-ever 300 game on Monday, September 28. His encore came three days later on Thursday, October 1 when he matched the feat for the second time in the week.
Burnett had never bowled a perfect game before, but he had seen others bowl one and got close to throwing one himself before. Burnett says the nerves were hitting him as he progressed closer to the first 300 game.
Burnett says his approach going into the later frames was to put it in the back of his mind.
Burnett says his reaction after the fact was one of shock.
After bowling his first on Monday, his second one came right away on Thursday. Burnett says the two games were so close together that he could not properly glean anything from the first one that could prepare him for the second.
Burnett says he employed the same strategy in the second game to not acknowledge the game he was having.
Burnett says this moment ranks up there as one of the best experiences he has ever had.
To bowl a perfect game, it takes some bowling skill and a little bit of fortunate bounces to go your way. The odds for the average bowler bowling a 300 is one in one-hundred thousand. Burnett says he believes there was a lot more luck on his side.
Burnett says his early life involved a lot of bowling at Sweet 16 Lanes which also helped prepare him for this feat.
The timing of the perfect games hits close to home as it was exactly one month after Alex lost his younger brother Adam at the age of 20. Burnett says he could feel his brother’s presence through his two games.
Burnett says his brother was always in his corner when it came to bowling even if it was not his most favorite activity.
Burnett also says his family has been very supportive of him and his bowling competition.
For anyone that is also looking to bowl a perfect game, Burnett says it takes practice and simply getting to the bowling alley to keep trying.
