It’s been a long road to 300 for Liam Giles, the Gloucester Catholic High School senior who bowled his first perfect game Dec. 5 at Westbrook Lanes Family Bowling Center in Brooklawn.
Giles’ family has owned Westbrook Lanes since it was built in 1966, and the 17-year-old has bowled thousands of games there, coming close to 300 several times over the years.
“I was very relieved because I had gotten so close but I was never able to finish it out,” said Giles, who said he had scored 290 or higher 10 times. “I was just so happy to see them all fall, and that I had finally got it.”
The only thing missing for Giles is that it wasn’t in a sanctioned game. It came when Giles and his teammates participated in their first practice for the high school season. Giles threw 12 straight strikes. It won’t help his bowling average, but in the end, that doesn’t really matter. He still did it. And with plenty of witnesses.
“I can’t use it for actual scores, but I can say I did it,” Giles said. “My dad has ten 300 games, but he only really counts seven of them because three were in practice.”
Giles is writing the next great chapter of a family bowling story. His parents were both Gloucester Catholic graduates who bowled in high school. And although Ryan and Caitlin (Grimm) Giles knew each other, it wasn’t until later that their love was sparked under the neon lights by the lanes.
“The funny thing is my dad was actually my mom’s bowling coach,” Liam said with a laugh. “They knew each other from high school, but after [they graduated], he was giving her lessons, and that’s how they really got to know each other.”
Giles honed his craft and last year finished 16th individually at the State Championship Tournament as a junior. His 207.42 average ranked 42nd overall in the state.
“My goal right now in my last year is to get top five,” Giles said. “That’s why I’ve been practicing so hard.”
He’s not doing it alone. Gloucester Catholic hasn’t had a bowling team since 2017, but that all changed this season as Giles was able to recruit a handful of classmates to form a team. It’s been his goal since he was a freshman to bowl as a Ram.
Right now it’s tight, as the Rams only have five players, which is just enough to compete. But it’s a start.
“It’s very fun, especially because one of the people on the team [AJ Gay] has been my best friend since I was a little kid,” Giles said. It’s way better than competing as an individual.”
Gloucester Catholic won its first match of the year, sweeping West Deptford, 4-0. Giles started hot with a 234 opening game before settling into a 558 series. It wasn’t quite as nerve-wracking as trying to nail down that perfect game.
“It’s still a little bit of a blur,” Giles said of his 300 game. “I was shaking very badly, and I had to have my coach and my friend calm me down.”
There was a lot on the line. Giles made it his goal to earn his first 300 game faster than his father did.
“My dad got his first 300 when he was 23, if I remember correctly,” he said. “I know he was in his early 20s.”
And although it was a practice game, he said his dad gave him full marks for reaching 300. “He says he’s very proud of me.”
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