Throughout his bowling career, Mark Cook has racked up some impressive scores, but as close as he has come time after time, one score has eluded him.

“I've had a few 300s,” Cook said. “I've had 750s, 780s, but I always felt that the 800 was the big goal.”

Cook, like so many other bowlers, got his start when he was young, influenced by his father and getting involved in junior bowling. And every step of the way, Cook's father has been there supporting his son in his efforts on the lanes.

“I always joked with my dad (David Cook),” Cook said. “That when I got an 800 that I would dedicate it to him when I got the big one and I always hoped some day that I would be able to do that.”

In the middle of November, Cook was able to give his father something to be proud of, when Cook earned an 803 at Starlite Lanes.

A milestone that he is still absorbing to some extent.

“For the past couple of days, I just keep playing it over and over again in my head,” Cook said. “It is a good feeling.”

Cook, who bowls for Wet Willy's on Wednesday nights at Starlite had been building up to the momentous occasion all season.

A week previous to his 800, Cook said that he was bowling on lanes one and two, which he said for one reason or another he has never bowled particularly well on.

But that night he earned a 758.

A week later, Cook found himself on his favorite lanes in the house.

“We were bowling on 13 and 14,” Cook said. “Those are my favorite lanes. I got two 300s there so I was feeling pretty good.”

Cook said that he started off fairly strong, bowling 259 and 265 in his first two games. By the time he started the third game, Cook was feeling in the zone.

“I was feeling pretty good,” Cook said. “I felt like a couple of those frames I bowled terrible but by the last frame I got nine and everybody was pumped up.”

Cook said that everyone on his team and many at Starlite were eager to see him break the 800 barrier.

“On my team, there are a couple of guys who are newer to bowling,” Cook said. “So they were on their feet. I think they were more nervous than I was. And there were some other guys there that have been bowling a long time and they knew how big this was and I think they were all hoping that I got it. I think there have only been a couple of 800s at Starlite in the past couple of years, so everyone was really excited.”

But through it all, Cook tried to keep his cool.

“I just kept trying to go through my normal routine,” Cook said. “I tried not to think too much about it and just go up there and set my feet and make my shots.”

Cook said that after he finished friends, teammates and fellow bowlers were there proudly cheering on his accomplishment.

“Everyone was clapping,” Cook said. “People were cheering. It was a really exciting time.”

In the following weeks, Cook has continued to bowl well, earning a 733 right after the 800, which has helped his team continue to do well, which is Cook's major focus these days.

“Individually we've got some good scores,” Cook said. “We bowled really well in the first half and I just want to get out there and keep doing well in the second half and keep bowling consistently.”