By DONOVAN GRUBAUGH
USBC Communications
ARLINGTON, Texas – Dylan Macon of Lubbock, Texas, added his name to the history books the evening of June 18 with the 44th United States Bowling Congress-certified 900 series during his Thursday Doubles league at South Plains Lanes.
“It still doesn’t feel like it happened,” Macon said. “I’m just happy for myself and happy for all the support I’ve had for the last 16, 17 years I’ve been bowling, to be able to do it and bring it home to the center I’ve spent most of my work life at.”
Macon’s journey in the sport began at age 16 after his high school started a bowling program. Although bowling had always been part of his family’s life, it was that experience that ignited his passion for the sport.
He later competed collegiately at West Texas A&M under coach Mark Scroggins before settling in Lubbock, where he has worked at South Plains Lanes for nearly a decade and now serves as the center’s youth director.
Despite owning numerous 300 games and 800 series, Macon never expected to join bowling’s most exclusive club.
“I never imagined that I would be able to say I’m part of such an elite group and to say I’m part of an even more elite group with the fact that I have an Eagle and a 900 series,” he said.
Macon earned his Eagle during the team event at the 2021 USBC Open Championships in Las Vegas as a member of Before the 1st Frame 1, making him the second person to win at the Open Championships and bowl a certified 900 series – Jeremy Sonnenfeld was the first, rolling the first 900 in 1997 and winning an Eagle four years later.
After opening with two perfect games, Macon said his mindset remained focused on one attainable goal rather than the possibility of perfection.
“The only thing I told myself going into the 10th frame was, ‘Beat the city record,’” Macon said. “That’s all I wanted to do was beat the city record. I got the first one, and I just kept telling myself, ‘Beat it harder.’ That’s what kept my mindset going.”
A fortunate break in the sixth frame of the final game helped keep the dream alive.
“I didn’t throw that great of a shot, and I tripped the 2-8,” Macon said. “That was the big break. I was like, ‘OK, you got your big break. Take advantage of it.’”
As word spread throughout the bowling center, spectators gathered behind his pair to witness history, which helped calm the nerves.
When the final strike fell, Macon collapsed to his knees, overcome with emotion.
“I really didn’t know how to react; it took me a whole game just to catch my breath back,” Macon said.
He closed out his four-game league series with a 257.
Although his name now sits alongside just 42 others who have accomplished the feat in USBC-certified competition, Macon hopes the milestone serves a greater purpose than personal recognition.
“It still hasn’t clicked,” Macon said. “Ever since I got into bowling, I’ve also worked in bowling pretty much the whole time. My whole goal ever since I got out of college was that I just wanted to help grow the sport.”
As the youth director at South Plains Lanes, Macon hopes his accomplishment inspires the next generation of bowlers.
“I want to be a big part in showing my kids, ‘Hey guys, no matter what y’all do in life, sports, work, it doesn’t matter, if you work hard, practice what you want to do and put in the time and effort, anything is possible,’” Macon said. “You can achieve anything, and I think I proved that.”
Macon also credited those closest to him for helping him reach the milestone.
“My parents were a big support,” Macon said. “When I said I really wanted to do this and wanted to stop playing baseball, they were 100 percent behind me.”
He also thanked his wife, Brandi, who has supported him throughout his competitive career.
“She’s always behind me no matter what,” Macon said. “Every tournament I’ve ever bowled, she’s been there.”
It’s the second perfect set in Texas and the 44th USBC-certified 900 overall.
The first USBC-certified 900 occurred Feb. 2, 1997, when Sonnenfeld rolled three consecutive perfect games in Lincoln, Nebraska, while Erik Howard of Louisville, Kentucky, was the most recent person prior to Macon to achieve 900 in February 2026.
USBC-Certified 900 Series (44)
Jeremy Sonnenfeld (R), Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 2, 1997
Tony Roventini (L), Greenfield, Wis., Nov. 9, 1998
Vince Wood (R), Moreno Valley, Calif., Sept. 29, 1999
Robby Portalatin (L), Jackson, Mich., Dec. 28, 2000
James Hylton (R), Salem, Ore., May 2, 2001
Jeff Campbell II (R), New Castle, Pa., June 12, 2004
Darin Pomije (R), New Prague, Minn., Dec. 9, 2004
Robert Mushtare (R), Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2005 and Feb. 19, 2006
Lonnie Billiter Jr. (R), Fairfield, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2006
Mark Wukoman (R), Greenfield, Wis., April 22, 2006
P.J. Giesfeldt (R), Milwaukee, Dec. 23, 2006
Rich Jerome Jr. (R), Baltimore, Dec. 22, 2008
Chris Aker (L), Winnemucca, Nev., Oct. 30, 2009
Andrew Teall (R), Medford, N.J., Nov. 2, 2009
Andrew Mank (R), Belleville, Ill., March 18, 2010
William Howell III (L), Middletown, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2010
Matt Latarski (R), Medina, Ohio, Nov. 28, 2010
Bob Kammer Jr. (R), Crown Point, Ind., Jan. 8, 2011
John Martorella Sr. (R), Greece, N.Y., April 12, 2012
Jimmy Schmitzer (R), Riverside, Calif., April 20, 2012
James Williams (R), Pawcatuck, Conn., (bowled in Wakefield, R.I.), April 16, 2013
Joe Scarborough (R), Charlotte, N.C., (bowled in The Villages, Fla.), April 21, 2013
Todd James (R), East New Market, Md., (bowled in Laurel, Del.), March 18, 2014
Amos Gordon (R), Colorado Springs, Colo., April 11, 2014
Earon Vollmar (R), Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 19, 2015
Hakim Emmanuel (R), Stoughton, Mass., Feb. 19, 2015
David Sewesky (L), Dearborn, Mich., Jan. 10, 2016
Dale Gerhard (R), Mill Hall, Pa., Jan. 12, 2016
Sean Osbourn (R), Houston, Nov. 21, 2016
John Buchanan III (R), Evansville, Ind., Jan. 11, 2017
Sam Esposito (R), Homer Glen, Ill., Feb. 3, 2017
Brady Stearns (R), St. Cloud, Minn., March 28, 2017
Joe Novara (R), East Patchogue, N.Y., Oct. 16, 2017
Jonathan Wilbur (R), North Clarendon, Vt., Jan. 14, 2019
Jeremy Milito (L), Holbrook, N.Y., April 25, 2019
Wesley Low Jr. (L), Palmdale, Calif. (bowled in Glendale, Ariz.), July 19, 2020
Cody Schmitt (R), Elkhart Lake, Wis., Nov. 16, 2021
Stephen Kosela (R), Ambridge, Pa., March 13, 2022
Bryan Deck (R), New Castle, Ind., June 20, 2022
Desron Weatherspoon (R), Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2025
Andrew Granite (R), Elverta, Calif., Nov. 10, 2025
Erik Howard (L), Louisville, Ky., Feb. 25, 2026
Dylan Macon (R), Lubbock, Texas, June 18, 2026