Macallan Gagne Excels for Saratoga Bowling

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was certainly a year to remember for Saratoga Springs sophomore bowler Macallan Gagne.

Gagne finished the year as the team’s top bowler, threw a perfect game, and made an appearance at the New York State Championships for the Blue Streaks. 

Gagne began the season as Saratoga’s #2 bowler, but quickly earned the team’s top spot. He said it “felt great” to become the team’s #1 option.

“I was going up against the top bowlers, and I had a chance to beat them or even come close with some of the greater bowlers,” said Gagne. “That was pretty cool.”

Gagne’s regular season was highlighted by a perfect game, bowled during an 18-14 win over Averill Park on Dec. 1. Gagne’s 300 came in the second game of the night, just after he had lost a perfect game in the ninth frame of his first game.

“That was fun. The first game, I shot like a 266,” Gagne said. “Ninth frame, I messed up, and I was upset. I just reset, see if I could try again. … Their coach was actually kind of saying, ‘It’ll come soon, just try to get it next game.’ I just stuck with it, figured out a line and threw the same shot.”

He said the final frame was “very nerve-wracking,” but Gagne finished the perfect game and celebrated with his coaches and teammates.

“Both of my coaches were behind me and stuff like that, and it was pretty fun,” said Gagne. “To see my friends and stuff like that behind me, it was also really fun.”

As a team, Saratoga finished as Section 2 runner-ups this season, one year after winning the sectional title. Although the Blue Streaks did not advance to states as a team this year, Gagne qualified individually as a composite bowler.

While he said it “would’ve been nice” for the team to earn another section championship, Gagne said it still felt great to return to states individually.

“I enjoyed it. It was tough, but I stuck through it,” said Gagne of states. “Our team did pretty well, and I enjoyed the overall experience.”

Gagne, who also plays JV baseball for Saratoga, said he will be competing in bowling tournaments across the country in preparation for next season. He said his early goals for next season are to shoot another perfect game, and qualify for states once again.

“Just doing that, and then when the season starts to come, I’ll probably get in (Strike Zone) once or twice a week, just to practice, sharpen up skills and stuff like that, and work on anything I need to,” Gagne said.