Stawicki Bowls Second Ever Perfect Game in SPF History

12 throws, 12 strikes. That is what it takes to score a perfect game in bowling. Some bowlers could go a whole lifetime without one. Nick Stawicki finally got the monkey off his back this past week. Stawicki bowled the second perfect game in Scotch Plains history on December 23 against Roselle Catholic. The captain carried an impressive 215 game average going into the perfect game (stats as of 12/21) a number that surely spiked with the achievement.

I’m sure this isn’t the first time that you have come close to a perfect game, have there been any close calls before this?

So far this high school season I’ve had the first nine strikes in the game two or three times this season. There were a few games where I have had the front seven or eight, it was a relief for me to finally get that perfect game.

When do you usually start thinking that you may get the perfect game? Do you not? Was this time any different?

The two other times I have had the front nine strikes everyone gathered around and starts to watch and gets real quiet. Up until that point im just bowling and having fun with my team and once everyone comes around and gets quiet then things get different.

The crowd kind of went with it this time they didn’t get all quiet this time, they kind of kept going, kept the same level of conversation, didn’t put extra pressure on me. After I had the first strike in the tenth frame I kind of knew that this was my day. This one seemed a little bit different.

Were your teammates afraid to jinx it? Is the bowling perfect game kind of like a pitcher going for a perfect game in baseball?

It kind of depends whats going on. If im joking about it with someone or one of my friends then we keep joking about it. Like if one of my friends says, "I think this is going to be your day, your going to shoot 300."

If someone is talking about it and bugging me about it then you just go with it. Keep doing what you did the whole time, keep it similar to what it has been the whole time. Just like baseball.

What was your first thought after you saw those last pins go down for the perfect game?

Finally. I finally got it. It was a big finally. It was a big sigh of relief. Kind of enjoyed getting this off my chest. It has been a goal of mine since the season has started. I have been getting so close every day.

How does it feel to do something that only one other person in the history of the SPF bowling team has done? Knowing that you will always be in the record books?

Last season Michael Tufaro, around the same time about a year ago, bowled his 300 game. I bowled varisty with him last year and it was the same kind of situation with him. He kind of just wanted to be relaxed as he was going for the perfect game.

He did the same kind of thing that I did. He had the same kind of reaction that I did. It’s cool that were the only two to have done it. It’s definitely something to be looked at down the road.

A lot of people in school give you a pat on the back; teachers, students, friends they all congragulate you. They have a banner that they put up last year and Michael was the first one and I was the second one to go.

Did seeing Tufaro achieve it last season help you as you dealt with the pressures of going for the perfect game?

It helped seeing him shoot it. I bowled with him for three years on varsity and to see him do it was a big help. I just kind of tried to do what he did afterwards. He helped the team, he was relaxed. It was never about him, he was out there to win and have fun. I kept the same attitude when I took over captain.

Favorite people to bowl with?

Some of my friends, some of my teammates. Depends what I want to do. If I want to have some fun then I’ll go out with family and friends. If I want to get some practice in I’ll bowl with my HS team or some of my other league mates.

How did you get into bowling? What has your bowling career been like before this?

When I was seven years old my dad got me into bowling. We joined a father son league, I kept up with him for about three or four years on that. When I was 10 or 11 I joined a kids league and I have kept it up ever since. I remember all of the accomplishments.

My first 200 game, My first 600 series, my first 700 series, every little accomplishment is another step in the ladder. I don’t really have too more to go, my first 800 series and if I get lucky my first 900 series.

What are your (bowling) plans for after your last season at SPF?

Join a summer league just to keep in bowling shape and for college I will be at NJIT and I will hopefully join their bowling team. Hopefully another 18-21 league also. It’ll be a one or another kind of thing because I am going to be focusing down on my studies (Nick will be doing chemical engineering at NJIT).