Francis is perfect again for North Penn
Bowling a 300 game is the goal — the dream — of any young bowler.
North Penn’s Lucas Francis has lived that dream, seven times over.
Amazingly, the senior rolled his seventh perfect game — his third as a Knight — this past Monday in a sweep of rival Hatboro-Horsham.
“Bowling a perfect game is by no means an easy task,” the senior says. “It can be extremely nerve-wracking. I have been bowling for approximately 10 years and I have luckily been in this situation previously. I was able to control myself and execute enough shots to roll my seventh 300 game.”
Francis’ positive impact on the team goes beyond all those strikes (often, 12 in a row).
“I’ve had Lucas now as a four-year varsity starter,” coach Don Stadnycki said. “An incredible humble, down-to-earth kid. There is no better teammate someone could have, always trying to encourage and help the others.”
Francis is adding to an already stellar career on the lanes at NP.
“He has been the leading Suburban One bowler the last two years, including being the Suburban One individual champ two years running,” Stadnycki points out. “He certainly is the best I have ever had in my (18) years of coaching.”
Francis has led the Knights to a perfect start — naturally — at 16-0. He also set the North Penn record for high series with a 790.
“Around the seventh or eighth frame, the thought of throwing a perfect game came to be and I knew, at that point, it was a likely possibility,” Francis said. “I started to focus more than I had been. When approaching my final shot, all I was thinking was that I just needed to give myself a chance to strike, and luckily I did.
“Being the first bowler in North Penn history to throw a 300 is an incredible feeling. The fact that I did it for my third time as a Knight was definitely memorable.”
And, remarkably, Francis might just be getting started.
“Bowling a perfect game is a goal of all young bowlers. Although, as you begin competing at a higher level, at local, state, and national tournaments, that goal begins to be more attainable,” he said. “Bowling on a collegiate level has been a goal of mine for quite some time now. Hopefully, by this time next year, I’ll have the opportunity to do so at the right university.”
