900 Club: The SSBC Queen from Queens
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The SSBC Queen from Queens

Marian Spring Becomes First Woman to Bowl 900

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Marian Spring defies all rational thinking.

When it comes to Silver Strike Bowling there are set trains of thought. Like the harder you throw the better. Or a perfect game is a rare feat. Or that the game takes years to master. To most, this is just the plain and simple truth about the game.

SSBCUnless you're Marian. She must not have gotten the memo.

"I do everything wrong," Marian proclaimed.

Throw the ball harder? Marian has heard Randy Peterson say "slow boat to China" so many times she's about ready to kill him.

300's are rare? Ha! Marian has over 50!

Years to master? She started playing back in February… yes, of 2007.

By all rational thinking Marian should be nowhere near the player she is. Instead, she's the queen of SSBC. And back on July 6 she claimed her throne. On that incredible day, the 52-year-old retiree from Queens, NY became only the second player ever, and the first woman, to bowl a SSBC sanctioned 900!

But wait, it gets better: She knew she could do it! Like it was as easy as waking up in the morning. Even though there has only been one recorded 900 ever in the three year history of SSB, Marian knew she could do it.

"I'd had several series with two 300 games," Marian stated matter of factly. "I just had to control the track ball and concentrate." Apparently it's just that easy…

Kelly'sAnd for Spring it was. Playing at Kelly's Pub in Middle Village, Queens, Spring opened a series with two 300's…again. And then it was exactly like she said - a matter of concentration. And she was going to need every once of it.

It only took a few frames before the pressure of the moment sunk in. Instantly, her once calm demeanor was gone - replaced by trembling hands and sweating palms. But her mind never wavered.

Frame after frame, Marian bowled on in relative silence.

"I'm not sure if people knew what was happening," Marian vaguely recalls. "But I don't remember there being any noise. Maybe they were watching and being kind or maybe I just got good at tuning it out. "

And then it was right there. Marian looked at the screen and realized only one roll separated her from a 900. Her goal was literally one hand movement away. The pressure was there, and yet it was all so far away.

Marian lined up her shot, held her breath, and let go.

"After I released the ball I just walked away from the machine," Marian said. "I didn't want to look. But when I did look, I just couldn't believe it. I started jumping up and down. I high-fived, kissed and hugged everyone in the bar! "

Marian

For only the second time in history a 900 glared off the screen of a Silver Strike Bowling cabinet! Marian predicted she could do it. And against all logical thought she made it happen.

Oh, and did I mention that she bowled a 300 right before her 900. Yes, she bowled 48 strikes in a row! That's a first too!

Yes, the queen has arrived and it's going to take one heck of a feat to take her throne… even if she does do everything wrong.

Congratulations Marian Spring on Becoming the First Woman
To Bowl a SSBC 900!

Silver Strike 2007 Bowler's Club

Stike it Rich!