One crazy night in April changed the history of 281 Bowl forever
The World's Fastest 300 Game
The video made it onto the Rundown on Pardon the Interruption (PTI) on ESPN!!
It started out as a regular day at 281 Bowl on April 5, 2017 — but who knew that in the late hours, history would be made and a wild ride would follow. Following the Wednesday Night Ladies league, Ben Ketola, an employee at 281 Bowl, decided to try his skill at attempting something amazing: the World's Fastest 300 Game!
Ketola, after viewing a 2015 YouTube video in which pro bowler Tom Dougherty hit for 12 strikes on 12 different lanes in a time of 1 minute, 50.99 seconds, wanted to try and beat his time. Having previously attempted the record three other times on April 1st, Ketola was held to 7 in a row at best. So John Bishop, with cell phone in hand, encouraged him to try it one more time while he recorded it.
With 10 different bowling balls on 10 lanes — running from Lane 10 back to Lanes 1 & 2 to cap off the perfect game — Ben accomplished what he set out to do… and he did it in 86.9 seconds!!
Ben uploaded the video to YouTube, but no one knew the craziness that would occur after it hit the web. In the days, weeks, even months to follow, Ben — along with 281 Bowl — was inundated with calls, interview requests and hits online. Ben was contacted by the local media along with honorable mentions on shows like ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning.
A bowling alley downstate invited Ben, along with friends and family, to visit, bowl and celebrate what he had done. He was contacted by a German entertainment company and traveled overseas to be on their show. All good things must come to an end — the attention died down and life got back to normal. However, 281 Bowl and Ben Ketola will never forget that spring when life as we knew it changed, if only for a few months.
Congrats Ben, and thanks for putting our house on the map!
