Baton Rouge bowler Wright breaks 28-year-old state series record

Before Monday, the Louisiana state record for three-game bowling series was the oldest in the United States – 28 years.

That record went by the boards Monday night at All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge when Tyler Wright rolled an 889 series on games of 300-300-289.

The former record of 888 was set on Jan. 20, 1990, at what is now AMF All Star Lanes in Kenner by a 16-year-old Brentt Arcement, then a sophomore at John Curtis Christian School.

Wright, 25, started his night with 24 consecutive strikes before leaving the 6-pin on his opening shot of the third game. After converting the spare, Wright strung together another 10 straight strikes and needed a 9-count on his final shot to break the state record. He left the 10-pin.

“What an absolutely incredible night … on the lanes,” Wright posted on his Facebook page. “I still haven’t come down from cloud 9 and can’t really put into words everything I’m feeling.”

He called the series “a result of a lot of hard work over the past few years, good shot making, and a little bit of luck all thrown into one night.”

In addition to the overall state record, Arcement’s series set a national youth record. To this day, it still ranks third on the all-time youth list.

Arcement found out late Monday from a friend that his record had been broken. “When I woke up this morning,” he said, “more than one person had tagged me on Facebook.”

His reaction to losing the record?

“I was a little sad, honestly,” Arcement said. “That was a big moment in my life. It was a sport I spent a lot of time developing my skills.

“It was an exciting thing back then, and I’m sure it was exciting for Tyler (Monday) night. I sent him a … message congratulating him on the record.”

Wright tipped his hat to those who have preceded him in the sport.

“To think of the all-time great bowlers that have come from his state before me,” Wright wrote, “and to know that tonight I did what no one has ever done is absolutely unfathomable.”

What is also unfathomable is that Arcement’s record stood for this long. When he rolled his 888 (on games of 300-288-300), there had been just one recorded 900 series, and it was unsanctioned. As of today, there are 34 sanctioned 900 series.

Arcement’s series was nationally recognized. Bowlers’ Journal did a feature story, local television stations covered his accomplishment and his bowling ball went to the National Bowling Hall of Fame, which was at the time located in St. Louis.

With Wright’s record-breaking performance, the oldest state record for three-game series now resides in Georgia.