Merrill’s Shannah Ellenbecker shot just the second 800 series for a female in Merrill bowling history when she rolled an 802 on games of 266, 258 and 278 for Kleenmark in last Monday’s Two-Person Scratch League.
Her response?
“I cried,” she said. “I was beyond ecstatic. I’ve seen my name on the board, but it still hasn’t sunk in yet.
“Last year my goal was to just average over 200. It was my first year bowling in adult leagues, and I shot a 700 (series) and a 300 (game). This year I said I honestly would be a little disappointed if I didn’t get an 800, but I didn’t expect to get one then. I had a really bad day at work. But I had faith in myself and my (Roto Grip Wrecker) ball.”
Ellenbecker spread around the credit.
“I’ve had a lot of great teachers,” she said. “Chris Doerr is one of the best bowlers around, and Josh Hoffman has really helped me. Ryan Shafranski, too. He’s on the Roto Grip Amateur Staff. It’s nice to know they actually care and want to help even though I’m a girl.
“A lot of people think guys are better than girls all the time, but I proved them wrong, so to speak.”
With a possible 800 on the horizon, Shannah switched up her style.
“As much as I don’t like counting out scores, I counted it from the third frame of the third game,” she said. “I needed a 276 to throw 800 right on the head. I kept firing strike after strike. I didn’t even hear them, but I guess Jim Arndt and Eric Wilke were right behind me yelling, ‘Get an eight, get an eight!’ on the last ball. I crouched, all 10 pins went down, and I cried. Then I hugged my boyfriend (Tyler Catlin).”
Ellenbecker trails only the 804 Mary Buttke bowled on Dec. 15, 2008, for Merrill’s best series by a female.