Greensburg Salem’s Dylan Megliorino rolls perfect game, impresses early with record-breaking stats

By: Ted Sarneso
Sunday, December 24, 2023 | 11:04 AM

Previous Next

Practice makes perfect.

But what happens when you’re perfect in practice?

Junior Dylan Megliorino of the Greensburg Salem bowling team has the answer.

On Dec. 6, Megliorino bowled his first 300 game for the school, but it wasn’t the first time he had rolled a perfect game.

His first came last year when he was bowling for the Hillview Lanes travel team. He also has bowled two 300 games in practice this season.

“I went into this most recent 300 with the most positive mindset that I possibly could,” he said. “Three-hundred games aren’t something you prepare for. It’s something that just comes.”

Megliorino became aware of his latest perfect game not from a certain standpoint or at a certain time in the match, but from what he was reading that day.

“Whenever I’m rolling the ball well, I’m striking a lot and I have good carry, those are what I’m looking for when I know I’m getting close to a 300 game,” he said. “Just more of a feel and a sense.”

What makes his accomplishment even more astonishing is the fact he is relatively new to the sport, having started bowling competitively only three years ago.

“Now he’s addicted to it,” Lions bowling coach Keith Shrum said. “He’s learned a lot over the years. For a while he was struggling, but then it all started clicking for him.”

Added Megliorino: “I got started bowling by going one day after school with my friend Liam, and I ended up really enjoying it. I just decided after that to commit to it.”

Apart from achieving his goal of bowling a 300 game, in which he finished with a staggering 813 series, Megliorino has put up some impressive numbers in the early part of the season.

“Another goal of mine was to beat (graduated teammate) Lucas Shevchik’s junior average of 220 pins a game. Right now, I’m at 230,” he said.

“Dylan was a letterman last year, and his average was 205. Highest game was 248,” Greensburg Salem bowling league president Katie Frick said. “I know 300s are special, but getting an 800 series is also hard to do. He really did well by accomplishing those at the same time.”

“It’s uncommon for someone to have such a high average in high school,” Shrum added. “It’s more common to see someone in the high 180s, into 190s, some in 200s, but not what he’s doing. And he still has another year left to go.”

Megliorino credits his spike in average to a strict crackdown on his mental focus.

“I practiced a ton and tried to work on my mental game, which was something I’ve really struggled with in the past,” he said. “Last year at regionals, I was tired and had a bad mindset. I wasn’t ready to perform. This year, I’m going into the season with a ready mindset and with help from my coaches.”

Last year, Megliorino placed seventh in sectionals, missing the cut by three pins, and finished 42nd in regionals.

“His maturity level has changed. Before it was more of like fun and games to him, but now he wants to be the top guy,” Shrum said. “He had a guy before him to where he didn’t have to worry as much, but now since he’s the guy, he doesn’t want to let the other kids down.”

Megliorino’s hard work has paid off, as he qualified this year for the Junior Gold Championships, which is a national tournament held every year for the top bowlers in the country.

The event will be held in July in Indianapolis.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to compete, meet new people and compete for something,” Megliorino said.

His performance this year is at the forefront of the success of the Greensburg Salem bowling team.

Both the Greensburg Salem boys and girls bowling teams sit second in the East-Southeast section at the third week of the year with identical 2-0 records and 14 points.

Even though he’s accomplished so many of his goals this year as just a junior, Megliorino knows there is still more to achieve this season and will worry about future goals come the start of next year.

“My two other goals this year were to make states as an individual and to make states as a team,” he said. “I’ll just see how it goes and at what rate I improve, and that’s when I’ll decide what my goals will be for next year.”

Tags: Greensburg Salem