I apologize for not giving more coverage to the record setting exploits of Shane Quam, a junior at Oregon High School who now has three perfect games this season, according to a story in this week's Oregon Observer.
I plead simple ignorance, — which I know many will agree with!
The folks at Oregon Bowl and/or those who run the center's junior program have not reported the scores to the Wisconsin State Journal, which is my main source for daily league scores from the Madison area.
Hopefully, that is on its way to being rectified.
I wrote this blog after I saw in an earlier Observer story that Quam had rolled a perfect game and 808 series on Jan. 14.
And according to this week's Observer, Quam, who bowls for the Oregon High School team, also fired perfect games on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, giving him what I am certain is a Madison area record for junior bowlers in one season.
The Observer story by assistant sports editor Anthony Iozzo is a good read, but it is not posted on the Observer's website so unfortunately I can't provide a link. If it gets posted in the future I will add the link.
I saw the story because I have lived in the Madison suburb since 1993 and subscribe to the Observer.
What makes Quam's record especially impressive is that Oregon Bowl is the kind of old-time center any true bowler loves.
Owned for years by the Frye family, the 8-lane center has above-ground ball returns and aging wood lanes with plenty of character.
I bowled league there for a few seasons after I moved to Oregon and managed three 800 series there but never more than a 299 game. And I was just as likely to barely scratch out a 500 as fire an 800. Most weeks I put away my reactive resin ball and used an old urethane Columbia Wine U-Dot.
That should give you good context for Quam's perfect games.
The article says he averages in the 210s.
Shane, if you read this and I can offer anything to help your bowling, get in touch.
And great job!
Two other junior bowlers have recorded perfect games this season: Jacob Dahl on Dec. 10 at Dream Lanes and Braxton Miller on Oct. 8 at Prairie Lanes (the third of his career).
