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hese girls were younger than me, and I
thought ‘maybe I don’t have it anymore.’
I broke down. I felt like I was mentally The actual physical act of throwing the ball
broken,” the 38-year-old said of her takes about three seconds. So it’s really less
Trecent Smithfield Tour Championship than a minute that you’re actually
played in Richmond, VA. After completing a few
rough matches leading up to the finals, O’Keefe be- physically moving [during a game].”
gan doubting her abilities and wondered if she’d ever different countries against one another. The teams com-
land an elusive major bowling championship. prise of only 36 men and 36 women from each nation.
“I’ve been knocking on the door of winning a
major for like a decade. I finished second so many The 2017 World Championship took place in Las Vegas.
When she’s not winning titles on the PWBA and
times.” O’Keefe leaned on her husband for inspira- Team USA circuit, she’s recruiting, coaching and inspiring
tion when her thoughts got the better of her. “He the women’s bowling team at McKendree University
gave me some incredible words of advice. He told in Lebanon, IL alongside her husband who directs the
me to ‘control what you can control. Once the men’s bowling team.
ball leaves your hand, there’s nothing you can do “We’ve struggled with having our own children,
about it.’” but God put us in a position to care for so many other
With her recharged attitude, O’Keefe continued
winning, eventually facing six-time major champion children. I guess giving me one wasn’t the best use of my
love and knowledge.” O’Keefe’s team of 28 girls inspires
Kelly Kulick for the title. With the event streaming her every day to be the best coach, bowler and person.
live on the CBS Sports Network, she knew she “It’s really important that I set a really good example for
would need to remain mentally tough. them…stay true to our integrity and who we are.”
“The actual physical act of throwing the ball takes
“Teaching bowling is the easy side,” inspiring them
about three seconds. So it’s really less than a minute to be great in all their endeavors is the hard part,
that you’re actually physically moving [during a game].” O’Keefe says.
During the other 30 to 60 minutes, O’Keefe says,
you’re in your head, worrying about the next throw
or beating yourself up.
Not this time. O’Keefe corralled her nega-
tive thoughts, ignored the mounting pressure and
defeated Kulick by a 222-203 margin. Of her long
list of achievements, this one ranks near the top.
Her accomplishments now include: six Professional
Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) titles, a
PWBA regional title and a host of minor champi-
onships.
The bowling star is also a mainstay on Team USA,
entering her 13th year and earning over 30 med-
als, 21 gold. “It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done,”
O’Keefe says. The group represents the best of the
best bowlers in the nation who travel the world
competing against teams in other countries. “To
wear that red, white and blue and hear our national
anthem in another country, is nothing short of a
blessing.”
Although she’s visited a number of cities in about
15 countries and enjoyed all of them, she says Hong
Kong is her favorite. “The city was incredible. The
people were amazing. Plus, we won the team event
at the world championship there. It was the first
time in 24 or 27 years the women’s team won the
world championship. It meant a ton.”
The Bowling World Championship takes place
every four years and pits dozens of teams from