Minnesota bowler rolls first certified 300 at 2025 USBC Open Championships
March 29, 2025
BATON ROUGE, La. – The spotlight feels a little brighter at an event like the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, but that’s also what makes the big moments so special.
Aaron Trutwin of Little Falls, Minnesota, stood under those lights early on Saturday morning at the Raising Cane’s River Center as he prepared for his final frame of singles with nine consecutive strikes on the board.
The 33-year-old right-hander felt confident he could finish the game with three more strikes for the fifth perfect game of the 2025 event – and his first USBC-certified 300. He completed the task in dramatic fashion, as both the 4 and 10 fell late on his final delivery to secure his spot in the tournament’s record book.
Trutwin’s road to perfection started off slow through his first four games, but patience proved to be the key for the strong finish.
After posting a 479 series in doubles and 157 start to singles, things started trending in the right direction with 206 in Game 2. The perfect finish helped him close his third tournament appearance with 663.
“I had a little trouble early and made a couple ball changes before deciding on the Purple Hammer,” Trutwin said. “Eventually, I think it broke down halfway through Game 2. I was able to find a nice spot around five-six-seven that carried nicely and had a little bit of room to miss, too. With the way the second game ended, I knew I had a chance to throw something big because of the line that developed.”
As the strikes added up in Game 3, the biggest concern for Trutwin was navigating the right lane. After delivering his final shot on that lane in the ninth, he was ready to go in the 10th.
Trutwin’s first shot in the final frame mixed up the pins, and he delivered a flush strike on his second. He admitted to pulling his final release, but the pins cooperated.
“Lane 42 was the tough lane for me, because it was hooking way more than (Lane) 41,” Trutwin said. “Once I struck in the ninth, I was very optimistic about getting the 300. My mindset was in a good spot, and I was a little nervous – but who’s isn’t? I threw two nice ones, and the last one was pulled a little bit. It was a little heavy, but they all fell, and I couldn’t be happier. The last shot was almost like in slow motion, but then the 4 pin tripped out.”
He's had some close calls at home, including a few 299s. He rolled 300 during an uncertified league in the past, but he appreciated the challenge of collecting his first certified award score at the USBC Open Championships.
“It’s amazing and unexpected,” Trutwin said. “I believe in myself and know I’m a good bowler, but it’s tough to expect to do something like this at nationals. To be part of that group is unreal, and words can’t describe it. I’m very happy and proud I was able to do it.”
The icing on the cake for Trutwin’s performance was getting to share the moment with his brothers – Emil and Henry Trutwin.
“We came out here together – Henry is the bowling fanatic who set this up,” Trutwin said. “He didn’t force me to come out here, but he really badgered me about it, and I’m glad he did. I know my brother has always been trying to get me more involved in bowling, and he really wanted me to push harder because he saw a lot of potential in me. So, to do that in front of him – on this kind of stage – was super cool.”
Trutwin added a 527 series during his team event to conclude his 2025 appearance with an all-events score of 1,669.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.
Aaron Trutwin of Little Falls, Minnesota, stood under those lights early on Saturday morning at the Raising Cane’s River Center as he prepared for his final frame of singles with nine consecutive strikes on the board.
The 33-year-old right-hander felt confident he could finish the game with three more strikes for the fifth perfect game of the 2025 event – and his first USBC-certified 300. He completed the task in dramatic fashion, as both the 4 and 10 fell late on his final delivery to secure his spot in the tournament’s record book.
Trutwin’s road to perfection started off slow through his first four games, but patience proved to be the key for the strong finish.
After posting a 479 series in doubles and 157 start to singles, things started trending in the right direction with 206 in Game 2. The perfect finish helped him close his third tournament appearance with 663.
“I had a little trouble early and made a couple ball changes before deciding on the Purple Hammer,” Trutwin said. “Eventually, I think it broke down halfway through Game 2. I was able to find a nice spot around five-six-seven that carried nicely and had a little bit of room to miss, too. With the way the second game ended, I knew I had a chance to throw something big because of the line that developed.”
As the strikes added up in Game 3, the biggest concern for Trutwin was navigating the right lane. After delivering his final shot on that lane in the ninth, he was ready to go in the 10th.
Trutwin’s first shot in the final frame mixed up the pins, and he delivered a flush strike on his second. He admitted to pulling his final release, but the pins cooperated.
“Lane 42 was the tough lane for me, because it was hooking way more than (Lane) 41,” Trutwin said. “Once I struck in the ninth, I was very optimistic about getting the 300. My mindset was in a good spot, and I was a little nervous – but who’s isn’t? I threw two nice ones, and the last one was pulled a little bit. It was a little heavy, but they all fell, and I couldn’t be happier. The last shot was almost like in slow motion, but then the 4 pin tripped out.”
He's had some close calls at home, including a few 299s. He rolled 300 during an uncertified league in the past, but he appreciated the challenge of collecting his first certified award score at the USBC Open Championships.
“It’s amazing and unexpected,” Trutwin said. “I believe in myself and know I’m a good bowler, but it’s tough to expect to do something like this at nationals. To be part of that group is unreal, and words can’t describe it. I’m very happy and proud I was able to do it.”
The icing on the cake for Trutwin’s performance was getting to share the moment with his brothers – Emil and Henry Trutwin.
“We came out here together – Henry is the bowling fanatic who set this up,” Trutwin said. “He didn’t force me to come out here, but he really badgered me about it, and I’m glad he did. I know my brother has always been trying to get me more involved in bowling, and he really wanted me to push harder because he saw a lot of potential in me. So, to do that in front of him – on this kind of stage – was super cool.”
Trutwin added a 527 series during his team event to conclude his 2025 appearance with an all-events score of 1,669.
The Open Championships is celebrating its third trip to Baton Rouge in 2025 and scheduled to feature more than 58,000 bowlers and 11,600 five-player teams competing across 150 consecutive days at the River Center.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open Championships page.