By Margeaux Leakas

Contributing Writer

OXFORD — Not only has Rick Hannebaum been around bowling his entire life, but he has also been bowling 300 games since the late 1980s.

Last month Hannebaum bowled his 19th perfect game at Oxford Lanes. A 300 is the highest possible score a bowler can achieve without including a handicap.

“My mom and dad bowled most of their lives, and I took after them,” said Hannebaum, 53, a self-employed farmer who lives near Bath, Indiana. “I got the bug to bowl.”

Hannebaum has been bowling most of his career at Oxford Lanes and he is currently on a sanctioned-bowling league.

“Being on a sanctioned bowling league is the only way to get recognized,” he said.

A sanctioned league means the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) recognizes your score and every time a 300 is rolled, the bowler gets his or her choice of different prizes. The prizes consist of a variety of rings, plaques and patches.

Before Hannebaum ever bowled a perfect game, he remembers always psyching himself out on the last strike.

“Before I ever got a 300, there were four or five times where I had strikes in every frame, but when I got to the 11th frame, I would get nervous,” Hannebaum said. “Most people would stop and watch and that adds to the pressure.”

If you find yourself closing in on a 300 game, Hannebaum advices to keep calm and not think too much.

“You get can yourself worked up and nervous, but just take one frame at a time,” Hannebaum said. “Don’t do anything different, just keep the same routine.”