Bowler Throws Perfect 900 Series At East Islip Lanes

UPDATE – Here's Joe on his historic night:

This is my first perfect 900 series, I've come close a few times with an 879 which I had the first 31 strikes then left a 4 pin, but it was a 4 game league and I did follow with a 300 the next game which was pretty cool 1179 which I believe is tied second highest series ever. Believe it or not I didn't really feel any pressure, the shots that were most nerve wracking was the 7th and 9th being that I was having trouble going flush on that lane and all my friends knew so once I got the 9th one, my buddy Mike told me to pencil in the 900 lol. It's a pretty crazy feeling that I bowled 900, being close a few times I kinda had a gut feeling it would come, my friend had texted me after and she said NO F'N WAY and I simply responded FINALLY lol but it's such a honor to be part of such a small group of people. The two times with the front 31 was the closest I've ever came to 900 but my high series before this was 880 (300 280 300).

EAST ISLIP, NY – Thirty-six strikes in a row. It's one of the rarest achievements in all of sports, but that's exactly what 26-year-old Joe Novara pulled off at East Islip Lanes Monday night. Novara's perfect 900 series during a sanctioned league will become the 34th on record once officially approved by the U.S. Bowling Congress.

A video posted on Facebook of Novara's final two strikes has already racked up more than 50,000 views (watch it below) and news of Novara's 900 series, three consecutive 300 games, has quickly made the rounds in the close-knit bowling community.

"Congrats young man. Welcome to the club," Lonnie Billiter Jr., an Ohio man who threw a perfect series in 2006, posted on Novara's Facebook page.

Novara, 26, graduated from Sachem High School North in 2009 and bowling is kind of his thing. He was captain of the Flaming Arrows varsity bowling team and he led them to the county championship that year. Novara, who lives in East Patchogue, now owns The Perfect Fit Pro Shop at Port Jeff Bowl.

With about 28 straight strikes under his belt and fellow bowlers gathered around his lane Monday night in East Islip, Novara's mother got a call from a friend who is in the same league as her son.

"I couldn't get down there in time but was there shortly after to give him a hug," Jennifer Novara said. "I am so incredibly proud of him."

What his mother isn't, though, is surprised by the incredible feat.

"I absolutely knew this day would come," she said. "Joe has been focused on the sport of bowling since he was a young kid; his dad and I spent every single Sunday watching him compete in JBT, USBC and other junior tournaments all over Long Island throughout his childhood and adolescence.

"We traveled all over the country with him doing national tournaments for scholarships as well. He knew this was what he wanted to make his living doing, and he has never lost focus or determination. He recently became the owner of The Perfect Fit Pro Shop in Port Jeff Bowl as well - bowling has always been his destiny!"

Brian Weinstein coached Joe Novara for six years at Sachem North when a teenage Novara was already showing signs of greatness.

"I’ll never forget the one time in high school he bowled two 300s in one match, leaving everyone in the alley speechless," Weinstein told Patch in an email Tuesday morning. "If there was one kid you ever thought could bowl three perfect games, it would be Joey.

"From the reactions you see all over social media, you can tell that nobody is surprised and most were probably thinking whether or not he could’ve bowled another one afterwards. Bowling a 900 series is truly a remarkable accomplishment. He deserves all of his success."

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Novara