Elkhart Lake man throws perfect 900 bowling series, becomes fourth Wisconsinite to turn feat

Cody Schmitt celebrated his once-in-a-lifetime moment by getting back to work.

The 26-year-old Elkhart Lake native wasn't just a typical league bowler at Anchor Lanes when he rolled the 38th perfect 900 series verified by the United States Bowling Congress, accomplished Nov. 16 in his Tuesday night league. He also had to hop behind the counter and help keep things moving.

"We've owned the bowling alley for about 9 years," Schmitt said of his family. "I was born and raised in Elkhart Lake, my dad was a manager here back in the '80s or '90s, and we're very familiar with the place. I actually worked here before my family bought it."

He's officially been running the Firehouse Pro Shop inside the center since the summer of 2019, and when he's not working, he's just doing more bowling — twice a week at Anchor, subbing elsewhere and bowling as much as five times a week. He also coaches the Elkhart Lake-Glenbeaulah high-school varsity bowling team.

He's been bowling since age 4 and rattled off his first 300 game at a tournament when he was just 16. But this was something different entirely: a run of 36 consecutive strikes in a league setting for a 900, the fourth time that's been done in Wisconsin and first time it's been done anywhere in the country in 2021.

He's now thrown 25 300 games and 21 series in the 800s ... or more.

"I've never really thought it was possible," Schmitt said. "when you're growing up as a kid, you dream about winning a tournament, you don't dream of throwing 900. I came close before; I got the first 27 strikes of a series, but at that point, you kind of think that's your only chance you'd ever had to get 900, so I never thought I'd get close to that again."

An evening without a miss

When you count the six strikes he threw in warmups, Schmitt technically threw strikes on all 42 of his rolls. He left a 10-pin on his first ball two nights later in his Thursday league but still finished with an 853, then an 837 the following Tuesday. Schmitt is simply on fire.

His previous highs had been an 879 in 2020 and 859 in 2018. He's on track to get a special ring from the USBC and a lot of acclaim from those on social media who caught wind of the feat, including six time Pro Bowlers Association player of the year Jason Belmonte and PBA commissioner Tom Clark.

Schmitt completed the feat on the final pair at Anchor Lanes, lanes 11-12. It's a small house, but it's seen big scores before, including an 899 rolled by John Reiss on the same pair of lanes in January 2000. Only 28 bowlers take part in the seven-team Tuesday league, and Schmitt estimated about 35 to 40 people were in the house altogether the night of the 900.

"It's kind of nice being in a small league, everybody's very familiar with each other," he said. "It's a fun league for sure."

Onlookers are used to seeing Schmitt rack up big totals — so much so that the 900 perhaps didn't dawn on everyone as particularly unique.

"I've had people come up to me and say, 'Nine hundred ... is that your first one?' "

There are certain advantages that come with such a close connection to the center, aside from the obvious familiarity. As manager of the pro shop, Schmitt has access to new bowling balls a week or two before they're made available to the public, and the ball he used Nov. 16 was still three days away from full release.

He also swears, with a chuckle, that he wasn't in charge of oiling the lanes that night (and thus establishing the oil pattern that ultimately worked perfectly for his delivery).

"How bad would I look if I oiled that night?" he said with a laugh. "I have my dad that can vouch for me."

What comes next after rolling 900?

Schmitt was recruited by Robert Morris University and UW-Whitewater, both with strong bowling teams, and he committed to the latter but didn't stay long.

"College wasn't exactly right for me, so I came home and working for the family business," Schmitt said. "I've bowled pro tournaments here and there, but I think everybody's in the same boat, we're short of help and I haven't been able to venture outside for work and leagues and that sort of thing. It's just not really something I can afford to do right now."

But what's next, now that he's achieved perfection?

"I certainly want to get into more tournaments," he said. "Tournaments are No. 1, focusing on the pro shop as well, drilling equipment to throw 300s and 800s and maybe another potential 900. Just helping other people better themselves with their bowling and equipment. 

"I'm definitely not taking up golf; that's off the table. I lose my ball way too much."

Perfect scores

USBC-approved perfect scores in Wisconsin, accounting for four of the 38 in the United States.

• Tony Roventini, Greenfield, Nov. 9, 1998
• Mark Wukoman, Greenfield, April 22, 2006
• P.J. Giesfeldt, Milwaukee, Dec. 23, 2006
• Cody Schmitt, Elkhart Lake, Nov. 16, 2021

JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.