By Nick Regina | nregina@siadvance.com
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It was a perfect day for a perfect game.
Fourteen-year-old Justin Arenas was already having a good day last Friday. A freshman at St. Joseph-by-the-Sea, he aced his biology test that morning before heading over to his junior league at Rab’s Country Lanes.
A good day was about to become a great one. A perfect one, at that.
Arenas, a two-handed kegler, fired strike after strike en route to piling up a 300 score and his first-ever perfect game. In fact, he tossed an 805 series for the afternoon.
“It was my third game,” remembered Arenas while speaking with the Advance. “After I had my first seven strikes, I started thinking of the 300 game. I concentrated on each frame. Luckily, I was able to achieve my first 300.”
“Everything was going my way (that day),” he added. “I got a 97 on my biology test and I am not very good at that subject. Next thing you know, I show up to my normal league..my first game was a 269, second game a 236, and finished with an 805 series.”
It was hardly a one-time success story for Arenas, who has been bowling since he was 18-months-old. He joined the junior pro shop league at six-years-old and has been a fixture on the lanes in Dongan Hills since his youth.
He helped guide Sea to the CHSAA A bowling title this year and led his team with a 224 average. His previous high score was 290.
“I got into the sport because of my father, Jose Arenas, and my brother, Joseph Arenas, they are the reason why I am the bowler I am today,” said Justin, who also plays baseball. “I bowl almost every day to improve my game. I’m very competitive with bowling and baseball.”
Despite the adrenaline he was undoubtedly feeling on Friday, Arenas kept his emotions in check and remained composed as he approached the final frame.
“Approaching the last frame, I was thinking like a champ,” he said. “I’ve been in this position many times and was finally ready to accomplish it. There were many nerves going through my body, but knowing if I kept myself calm that I could finally do it.”
“To keep (my emotions) in check I was taking my time and talking to myself,” he added.
Arenas plans to return right to his usual schedule, which typically includes five days of bowling across numerous leagues. He’s also gearing up for baseball season.