Nicholl sets new standard at T-P Lanes
Bellefontaine resident becomes first woman to record a 300 game at local bowling alley

Megan Nicholl has been close to bowling 300 games before. This time she wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass her by.

“I was rolling the ball really well,” Nicholl said of her first game during the Classic League last Wednesday night at T-P Lanes. “Once I had the first five, I thought ‘this might be the night.’ Then in the 10th frame the nerves hit. On my first ball in the 10th I tripped a 4 pin late and I did the same thing on my 11th ball. But before the 12th ball, I just put my head down, took a deep breath and I buried it. I wasn’t going to let that 12th ball get away.”

That 12th straight strike put Nicholl in the Bellefontaine bowling history books. She became the first female bowler to roll a 300 at T-P Lanes.

“It was a wonderful feeling,” said Nicholl. “Both of my parents were there to see it. My husband was bowling in Urbana that night and he got pretty choked up on the phone when I told him. He was bummed that he wasn’t there to see it, but I told him that hopefully I’ll get another one and he can see that one.”

Nicholl was bowling on lanes 27 and 28, which she calls her “favorite pair.” Shortly after her history-making performance, she shared a special moment with former T-P Lanes proprietors Rick Hatcher and Scott Robinson.

“I got a call from Scott and Rita Robinson from Florida just a few minutes later,” said Nicholl. “Rick Hatcher also called and (his wife) Jill congratulated me as well. That meant a lot. I have developed a lot of great friendships here and the people (at T-P Lanes) have been wonderful to me.”

The response she has received from the entire community has been overwhelming as well.

“It’s fun when you see someone at Wal-Mart and it’s the first thing out of their mouth,” she said with a laugh. “It has been a fun ride.”

Nicholl, who carries a 195 average, went on to add games of 245 and 183 for an impressive 728 series.

The Bellefontaine resident has been bowling in leagues at T-P Lanes for 14 years. She said her goal of bowling a 300 has been a long time in the making.

“I would say it has been eight years since I really made it a serious goal,” said Nicholl. “My husband and I bowl a lot and we really push each other.”

She just missed doing it two years ago, finishing with a 298 game. Although disappointed at the time, Nicholl said she wasn’t discouraged.

“I was confident that I could do it,” said Nicholl. “My parents have been bowling for a long time and I’ve seen a lot people shoot 300s. I knew some day I would do it, I just wasn’t sure when that day would be.”

Now that she has broken through with a 300, Nicholl wants to have company.

“It was nice to break the ice and get that first one. I hope to see many more women follow me,” she said.

Nicholl is not ready to slow down. She has more goals on her list.

“I would like to get the house series record (which is held by Jane Kline with a 757),” she said. “I grew up watching Jane bowl. She is a great bowler. It would be a great honor to have that record some day.”

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