Gaspari has a perfect night at Bowl-Hi
HUNTLEY — For one night, Dec. 6, Huntley bowling alley known as Bowl-Hi had a slight name change. Make that “Bowl Perfect.”
The Huntley bowlers leaped in celebration when Nicholas Gaspari’s bowling ball knocked down all 10 pins for a memorable perfect game by someone who has bowled for just three years.
What was his approach as the ninth, then 10th, and finally 11th strike throws rolled the 60 feet and then were entered to the screen?
“I tried not to think about it,” Gaspari said of the feeling as 300 became a possibility. “I always take two or three breathes before I bowl.”
Gaspari shot a 204 in game one and a 190 in game two before the perfect game, for a 694 series. He was bowling in a group of Landen Conforti ho had a 633 series) and Matthew Fishman 680 series. The icing on the cake Dec. 6 was the fact that HHS rallied to beat rival McHenry.
“We finally did it,” teammate Joey Humphrey said as the 300 score was posted.
Gaspari’s mom Jean and dad Ron looked on as their son recorded the historic score from lane four at Bowl-Hi Lanes.
“I started to think about it about the seventh frame – here we go,” Ron Gaspari said. “I’ve been bowling for 20 years and I’ve never had a perfect game, as my best was a 290. This team is really a great group.”
The achievement came just two weeks after a Harvard bowler Gael Roman just missed 300 with a 299 score, also at Bowl-High Lanes.
“This is the first 300 game since I’ve been coaching, and I’m in my fourth year. We had a couple of 299s,” HHS coach Jacob Wagner said.
“I was bowling at the other lane and stopped so not to upset his rhythm. We’re so proud of him,” team captain Austin Tenglin said.
Nickolas Gaspari said he prepared for the season at a summer league at Poplar Creek Bowling Alley.
“I’ve been working on my approach and rotation,” he said. The ball he used Wednesday was recently purchased in Addison, where his dad was a high school bowler.
“Gaspari came in three years ago as just a ‘street bowler’,” Wagner said. “He is a fantastic kid, who came in and put in the work. He controlled the pocket well tonight. I’m happy for him and it meant a lot to him that his parents were here, too. He’s a quiet guy but he gets out of his shell around his teammates.
Gaspari said he admires professional bowler Jason Belmonte. Belmonte is famous for a 300 game he rolled in a world tournament in 2007 at the World Tenpin Masters.
HHS has has a successful first half of the bowling season, losing just one dual match and faring well in Saturday tournaments, including third most recently at Vernon Hills.
The perfect game night was more special as a comeback win over McHenry, with a 3,888 to 3,803 pins victory. In addition to Gaspari’s group, Noah Waters contributed a 658 series, Humphrey had a 630 and Tenglin a 594.
In his second year of bowling last season, Gaspari was an alternate on the Red Raiders squad which qualified for the IHSA State Meet. Huntley, currently ranked 12th, would love to make it a repeat and even qualify the team for the second day.
Wagner praised the closeness of the squad, who also gained support from the girls’ team also bowling Wednesday. “They love it, competing together and having fun,” the coach said.
This night belonged to Gaspari, whose teammates marked the occasion by taking him out to dinner.
