Mattapoisett Teen Bowls Perfect Game

Michael Hogan is a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School. He has been participating in competitive bowling throughout his high school career as a Special Olympics athlete.

One of his biggest goals for his bowling career had been elusive. His white whale was bowling a perfect game.

Michael said he'd come close a couple of times, bowling a remarkable 298 out of 300, but had never achieved the perfect game.

Until Tuesday.

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Taking advantage of some free time due to February vacation, Michael decided to get in a little extra work at Wonder Bowl in New Bedford.

It wasn't a competition or even a formal practice; it was just Michael spending his vacation doing his favorite activity. He ended up bowling nine games.

He Didn't Notice the Perfect Game Brewing

Michael said he really didn't notice that he was having a perfect game until he realized he had hit nine strikes in a row to open the game.

"Then, I paused for a minute and called my father down," he said. "He told me to take as much time as I needed."

You can watch Michael triumph over his white whale below:

A very proud dad and son celebrating the moment.

What Is a Perfect Game in Bowling?

"To achieve a perfect game, you have to throw a strike in all 10 frames. Then in the 10th frame you get to throw the ball three times," Michael's father Jim said. "So he actually has to throw 12 strikes in a row, which he did. He actually threw 18 strikes in a row today because he threw some in the games before and after."

Jim talked about how difficult it is to bowl a perfect game.

"I mean, you can't do any better. It's pretty difficult and it's been his goal for nearly five years," he said. "He got a 298 last year and he's bowled a 278 and a 275, but he's never hit the perfect game until Tuesday."

What's Next for Michael Hogan

Jim said that his son is "very proud to be autistic." Michael is preparing for the Massachusetts Special Olympics State Championship, where he's enjoyed repeated success. In fact, no one has scored better at the competition over the past three years than Michael Hogan.

We wish him well at the States, and hope this is only the first of many perfect games in Michael's future.