TACOMA — Sara Elliott did what millions of bowlers dream of on Saturday.
The Cascade girl bowled a perfect 300, the first time in district tournament history that a perfect game was bowled.
In the 4A Tri-District tournament held at Bowlero Lanes, both Cascade and Jackson represented the Wesco Conference well, sending a total of nine bowlers on to the state tourney to be held on Feb. 1 and 2 at Narrows Plaza in University Place.
But it was the Bruins’ Elliott who stole the show with 12 consecutive strikes and bowling’s most difficult accomplishment. It was also Elliott’s first 300, a full 136 pins over her season average of 164. Needless to say, the junior picked the ideal time to rise to the occasion.
“There was a huge round of applause after the last strike,” said Cascade coach Ron Hicks. “The place was just packed and everyone all came over to watch Sara.”
Elliott’s 745 3-game series (a 243 and 202 preceded the 300) earned her first place on the district all-tournament team, beating out Wilson’s Amanda Richards. Teammate Breanne Mattson notched third and Jackson junior Aleeza Alvarez was fourth.
“Every one of her balls was in the pocket,” said Hicks, who added that nobody was willing to do anything to jinx Elliott. “The girls were doing anything they could to make her not think about the 300.”
Defending state champion Wilson, out of Tacoma, captured the overall title, with a team total of 3510 to outpace the 2nd-place Timberwolves. Jackson’s score of 3121 was paced by Alvarez, who rolled a 567 series, junior Alicia Wright (499) and senior Baiba Rubenis (489). Senior Jamie Ellis and sophomores Danae Ellis and Allison Stephens will also represent the T-Wolves at state next weekend.
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