BY DEAN CRIDDLE - News-Democrat
Perfection is nothing new for Andy Mank.
The 22-year-old Belleville man had 16 career 300 games under his belt when brought his lofty 228 average to Bel-Air Bowl to compete in the Thursday Night Men's Handicap League.
But he took perfection to a new level as he reeled off 36 strikes in a row to become only the 16th person to bowl a perfect 900 series since the U.S. Bowling Congress began certifying them in 1997.
"Actually, I'm still having a hard time believing it really happened," said Mank, a sophomore at Southwestern Illinois College studying to become a welder. "I only had an hour's sleep."
What was going through his mind as he closed in on 900?
"I was thinking that I wasn't going to do it," Mank said. "It's been something since I've wanted to do since I was 3.
"I still can't believe it. I told everybody last night that everything was going through my head 100 miles an hour. I wasn't really nervous. Well, I was. But wow, to be the 16th person in the world to do this -- that's an amazing accomplishment.''
The 900 series is the first ever in Illinois according to USBC records and Bel-Air Bowl personnel. Mike Wilkin Jr., of Decatur, just missed earlier this year, bowling an 899 series. (see correction above)
Mank drew a large crowd as about 100 bowlers stopped competing and watched in silence as Mank fired his last few shots.
One of those getting a glimpse at history was Paulette McCullough, an employee at Bel-Air.
"Everybody was around lanes 1 and 2 watching Andy,'' McCullough said. "The place just went crazy when he got the last strike. He started jumping up and down. I'm still excited for him.''
Mank had an inkling it was a good night.
"I told one of my buddies that 'I'm due for a 300.' If I get one great. If not, I've still got a lot of other nights to bowl. And so I throw the first nine in a row in the first game and I'm like, 'OK, I'm this close so I might as well finish it.'
"Then the second game, I didn't even realize it because we were bowling so quick, like one ball right after the other.''
With the pressure mounting, Mank opened with eight picture-perfect strikes in the final game as nearly 100 fellow bowlers turned their attention to him.
Then Mank got the one and only break he needed.
"I threw my ball in the ninth frame of the last game in the pocket and I went 'oh,' because I thought I left the 10 pin,'' Mank said. "The next thing I know, I turn around and the 10 pin falls. They said a pin from the left side rolled all the way across and knocked the 10 pin.''
Clean strikes followed on his first two balls in the 10th frame. Then something strange happened.
"I was bowling on lanes 1 and 2 at and I look down the lanes and it was like a ghost town." Mank said. "I did a compete 360 and look behind me and I'm like, 'Oh my God.' I had between 80-100 people watching me. After I was done, people wanted to know if I was shaking or if my knees were buckling before I threw the last ball and, honestly, they weren't. "I kept my composure. All I wanted was that last one to finish the 900.''
He did. Not a perfect shot by any means, but good enough.
"When I got to the approach, it was like it was when I shot my first 300. Everything was quiet and I let it go. I closed my eyes for a split second and then opened them. I saw it hit the pocket. You can bet I saw it hit the pocket. I'm like, 'Ooooo ... yeah!' The whole place just erupted. It was like the Fourth of July without fireworks.
"I'm like, 'Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God!' The roof of that place raised a few feet. It was really something. I can't believe that I actually did it.''
Mank is the son of Steven and Cheri Mank, of Belleville. The 2006 graduate of Belleville East averaged 227 during his senior year under coach Gene Barrett.
He bowls several times a week during the winter and plays baseball in the spring and summer, He still has ambitions of perhaps bowling professionally in the future.The 900 series was just the beginning of Mank's good fortune.
After winning a little cash in a friendly wager with good friend John Flanagan -- a 279-212 win in a head-to-head match -- Mank headed to the Casino Queen with his buddy.
Sure enough, Mank cashed in, winning $200 on the slot machines.
"I probably should have played the Lotto instead,'' Mank said, laughing.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment