12-year-old Averie Bourne from Liberty, Missouri, has made history by setting a Missouri state record with a perfect 300 game at the Missouri Bowling Proprietor’s Association Family Tournament. Averie is now the youngest female to ever achieve a 300 in the state.

Averie’s grandfather, Jerry Ferrell, is the owner of Tiger Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, and has been a key influence in her bowling journey. Averie has been bowling since she was four years old, and Jerry, who bowled his first 300 at just 16, now shares the unique accomplishment of a perfect game with his granddaughter, but with Averie doing it at a younger age.

We had the chance to chat with Averie about her big achievement and her love for the sport.

Q: Congratulations on your 300 and becoming the youngest in Missouri to do so – that’s amazing! Were you nervous?

A: There were a few nerves, but mostly it was adrenaline that I had to manage.

Q: What was going through your mind in the 10th frame?

A: I focused on staying calm and making sure I didn’t rush my feet.

Q: How old were you when you first started bowling, and what made you fall in love with it?

A: I started when I was around four. My grandfather has dedicated his life to the bowling industry, and he helped me discover my passion for the sport.

Q: How often do you bowl?

A: I bowl in three leagues for most of the year, including a sport shot league at Tiger Bowl. I also participate in the KCO and Heart of America tournaments in Kansas City, and I try to attend as many Youth Scratch Masters and Nebraska Youth Partnership events as possible. On top of that, I aim to get to the lanes at least one extra day each week for practice.

Q: We first met you at SYC Kentucky in 2024, where you finished 2nd. Will we be seeing you at another SYC event soon? (We hope!)

A: We’d love to do all of them, but some are pretty far away. We plan to attend the one in Nashville. I used my 14lb Summit Peak, which I got at the SYC in Kentucky, when I bowled my 300!

Q: Do you play any other sports?

A: I also dance at The Studio LDG (my sister Hadley is on the competition team there), which is really fun and helps with my footwork and coordination.

Q: Now that you’ve bowled a perfect game, what’s your next goal in bowling?

A: I came close to an 800 series. Along with my 300, I finished with a 784 series, so my next goal is to hit 800.

Q: Are you enjoying being part of the Evolution Program?

A: I haven’t completed many of the assignments in the past year, but we do read the emails, and they’ve been really helpful.

Congratulations again, Averie, from all of us at Storm! Keep up the amazing work on the lanes!