Pictured Is: Kayla Myers Of Phoenix.
During Its Eight Years Of Operation. Uptown Alley In Surprise, AZ., Had Never Had A 300 Game Rolled By A Female There.
But, That All Changed On February 27, 2020. As Kayla Myers Of Phoenix, Became The First One To Do It.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association
Surprise, AZ. - - - Uptown Alley in Surprise, AZ., opened eight years ago in May 2012. And during its first eight years of operation, there had never been a female who had rolled a perfect game there. To those of you who bowl in leagues there, it has just always been a matter of time when this would happen at the West Phoenix bowling center.
Well, as fate would have it. The clock finally struck midnight on Thursday February 27, 2020 for Kayla Myers of Phoenix. As she officially became the first female to record a perfect game there.
"Its been a rush just personally. I'll be sitting doing something and think to myself. 'Dang, I actually shot 300," she said, during an interview shortly after the news on social media broke of this achievement. "It's been fun. I just hope I can do it again one day."
The league in which she rolled the perfect game in was the Vegas Baby League. In addition to her 300 game. She also rolled scores of: 194, 180, for a 674 series.
"I still feel like the adrenaline is running. Honestly, before I shot 300, I didn't know there had not been another female to shoot 300," she said, of her accomplishment on February 27. "Otherwise, I probably would have been more nervous than I already was. It means the world to me to have done this. I have bowled competitively for a long time, but to be the first female in this center to do it, is truly amazing to me."
This was not Kayla's first perfect game however, that she bowled in a league or tournament. She had bowled one in a JBT tournament in 2012 at Palos Verdes Lanes in California.
"To be honest, my heart rate took awhile to come down!. I was in shock," she said, of how she dealt with the aftermath. "It was so cool to be able to do it, and I just truly could not believe I actually did it. I think I handled it pretty well, but I honestly probably looked like a hot mess afterwards. It was truly just an unreal feeling at the moment."
During the course when someone shoots a 300 game, there is always one moment when the fear of the string of strikes will come to an end. Kayla knew when her string of strikes could have come to and end, but in this case, she had got through it.
"Frame 9 wasn't too bad when I got ready to throw my shot, but I did tug it a little. And once I struck I came back off of the approach and looked at my teammate Amanda," she said, of the pressure that started to build. "I told her I was getting super nervous. She told me to 'just do my thing and throw three more good ones. My tenth one, I pulled in a little and got more nervous, but it struck high flush. My 11th one, I decided to move my feet a couple of boards left, because I knew with my nerves I was going to tug it again. It was surprisingly good though and struck! My 12th shot, I decided to move another two boards left, because I knew I was going to really tug this one. Because of the fact I was so nervous, the shot was good and what do ya know. I shot 300!"
Kayla says she really began to feel more confident in herself after her first eight strikes, that she could in fact roll the first perfect game by a female at Uptown Alley. She feels this was because the ball was coming off of her hand really well.
"I was scared to look around after my 10th and 11th shots. I knew the people around me had stopped bowling, but I don't think the whole house stopped. I just tried to stay focused," she said, of the tenth frame. "It was definitely my nerves that were working to say the least. I tried to just keep my cool and take deep breathes between each shot and that seemed to help out a lot. My papa always taught me to count in my head my steps as I take them in my approach. And if I ever got nervous to keep myself still in sync, so I resorted to that also to calm the nerves."
So, the next obvious question that was asked. Will it be easier for her to roll another perfect game the next time she gets the opportunity to do it.
"I honestly don't know if it will be any easier," she said, if the opportunity will present itself again. "I may be a little less nervous, but its something that's such a huge accomplishment. If I am ever in the position to do it again, I will still probably be very nervous. All of my close friends were there to see me do this. That meant a lot to me to have my team behind me, plus all of my close friends."
The ball that she used to bowl her perfect game with, was the Halo Pearl. It was drilled by Riley Dempsey of Virtue Bowling Supply. She has bowled in leagues in the valley for the last 19 years. Youth leagues from 2001-09, and adult leagues from 2009-20. She bowled in JBT tournaments when she was growing up and she has four JBT titles.
"My papa was definitely my biggest influence in bowling when I was growing up. He bowled his entire life and taught me to bowl at about the age of ten. I always went to league with him and he taught me so much about bowling," Kayla said, of her biggest influence in bowling. I met my husband through bowling and he is also a huge support when it comes to me and my bowling. I don't get to compete as much as I would like to, but he has always been there to push me along with my papa. I don't think without their help I would be at the level I am today. I'm also thankful for the JBT and all the tournaments I was able to bowl in growing up. Jeff Hemer does an amazing job running the tour."
Kayla is currently employed as an Assistant Manager of a Wendy's in Phoenix. She graduated from Horizon High School in 2010. She also played soccer and softball when she was growing up, but her main focus was always on bowling.
"I'm always looking to improve my game. I don't have much time to practice between work and school, but hopefully once I get through school. I'll be able to practice more and get out there and compete more," she said, on where she would like to be in the next five years. "This 300 game has topped what I ever imagined what I would do in league this year. This league is such a fun time and I always have such a great time whether bowling goes the way it did for me last week, or even if I don't bowl the greatest."
Uptown Alley gave Kayla a personalized plaque celebrating the occasion. Her highest average to date, according to Bowl.com, came during the 2013-14 season. She averaged 210 for 105 games in the High Society League at Bowlero Via Linda Lanes.
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