Rolling in the wins: O’Fallon’s O’Keefe bests in national championship
Busy is one way to describe the last three month stretch for O’Fallon professional bowler Shannon O’Keefe.
O’Keefe just brought home her her first national title.
With a 246-203 victory during the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour in Sonoma County Open, O’Keefe never fell below 12th place after any of the strikes in six of the first seven rounds.
Native of Oregon, O’Keefe has settled in O’Fallon calling the metro-east area home.
Her husband, Bryan O’Keefe, is the program director for the bowling program at McKendree University in Lebanon. O’Keefe is the head coach for the women’s bowling team at McKendree also, and they’re heading into their third year there.
“It was fantastic to see all of her hard work over pay off, and to collect her first singles national title, which is something I will never forget,” Bryan O’Keefe said. “It was awesome to be there, and get to experience that moment with her.”
When the PWBA folded in 2003, O’Keefe took a short hiatus from her professional status, and carried on to regain her amateur status with two wins in the New York State Queens Title and has been a member for the past 12 years.
In 2008, she won the Texas Bluebonnet Queens three times in four years (2011, 2012 and 2014).
With the PWBA in limbo, O’Keefe didn’t let the competing against males and females in the Professional Bowling Association (PBA) scare her off. She won a PBA regional tour title at the PBA Southwest Region Del-Mar Lanes Challenge, where most of her competitors were male.
O’Keefe has racked up a plethora of gold, silver and bronze medals in international competitions with Team USA, which she said she’s very proud of. In fact, with Team USA in 2011 — the bowler went to the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) World Women’s Championships in Hong Kong, where she conquered the gold for the United States in the team event for the first time since 1987.
“She had previously had a ton of success on the international level, at World Championships representing Team USA (six time World Champion), but hadn’t had the chance to break through and win a professional national title,” Bryan O’Keefe said. “The resurrection of the PWBA last summer, after a 13 year hiatus, allowed for that to be possible. So the whole thing was just a great experience.”
In April, O’Keefe ushered the McKendree University women’s bowling program into its first-ever appearance at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship in North Brunswick, N.J. After a week of solidarity and determination, the Bearcats brought home a Final Four trophy — the team’s first distinction since the transition to NCAA Division II membership was finalized in 2013. Shortly thereafter, O’Keefe coached McKendree into the semifinals of the Intercollegiate Team Championships in Wichita, Kan.
“She is a natural coach and leader, and is great with the students. This is her first coaching job she’s had, and so I thought there would be some longer learning curves on the ‘do’s and don’t’s’ and such, but she has done a wonderful job of learning how to manage being their friend, coach, and mentor — all at the same time,” Bryan O’Keefe said.
Bryan O’Keefe said Shannon fits right in at McKendree, and the support from the university is phenomenal.
“We are just thankful they allow and support her in continuing to compete and still coach,” he said.
“I think the only real difference between her and the other coaches in the athletic department is that she still competes at the highest level. There are not many occasions where coaches are still active competitors. So, that’s really the only difference. Everyone within the athletic department here at McKendree is trying to build championship programs and better young adults. We learn from each other every day. She has learned a lot from all the coaches within the department…which I think has shortened her learning curve,” Bryan O’Keefe.
Before climbing the ladder fast in the bowling pro circuit arena, O’Keefe was a first team all-American centerfielder while attending Portland University. As a freshman she had a .411 batting average and 15 outfield assists. Even younger, when she was 15, she was one of the final 160 women competing for one of the 1996 Team USA Softball team spot.
Although bowling isn’t an Olympic sport currently because it is only a Pan American level sport on the international level, the O’Keefe’s are keeping their fingers crossed for change to swoop in on that front.
“Our United States Olympic Committee recognizes bowling, but the International Olympic Committee currently does not recognize bowling in the Olympics. Hopefully that changes soon,” Bryan O’Keefe said.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Oregon with five brothers, We were a big baseball/softball family.
When did you start bowling?
I actually didn’t start bowling until I was 16.
Where did you attend college?
I went to Portland State University, where I played softball.
Who do you admire, and look to as a role model?
I have always admired and looked up to Lynda Barnes from Flower Mound, Texas. We have competed with and against each other for nearly 15 years. When I first started competing professionally, she was one of the first ones to pull me in and mentor me. She has a mental game to model after and she has the biggest heart.
What's life like on the pro circuit? How is it traveling so much?
That’s a loaded question. It’s hard, but so awesome at the same time. I feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to compete at the level I’ve always dreamed of. However the travel, not being in a normal routine, the eating, not being able to work out regularly, and not sleeping in your own bed can be hard sometimes. But, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Who or what do you contribute your success to?
Hard work and dedication to wanting to be the best. Nothing is given, it’s earned. If you want to be the best you have to work and train to be the best. I have a very strong work ethic and that is what keeps me going. I also believe coaching our kids at McKendree has helped a lot, I have high expectations of them, and if I can’t live by those expectations than how can I expect them to?
Are you happy with your game? Is there anything you hope to improve?
I’m very happy with my game, however there is always room to improve. The moment you become content in this game, is when others pass you.
What is your homelife like?
My husband Bryan and I have four dogs, and about “70 kids” that are part of our program at McKendree. I always saw myself as a mom growing up and knew I had so much love to give, however that has been a struggle for us. Now I know God had bigger plans for us and made us parents in another way, I love all of our kids, and I would do anything for them, I can only imagine this is how it feels to have children of your own.
What training is involved in maintaining your level of play?
I feel it’s extremely important to work out regularly and practice as much as possible. I’m bowling 6 days a week right now and still doing all the release drills to help keep me sharp from one PWBA stop to the next. I love to run, however that has been really hard to continue getting them in while traveling so much, and now we are heading into week 11 and my body is starting to feel worn down, so staying in shape is the most important.
Why are you so successful this year do you think?
I feel like I have always been in the hunt from year to year, however this year is different because instead of just believing it’s possible to win, I now KNOW I can, and that is a huge difference in confidence.
What are your professional goals?
I would like to win a few majors and 10-plus titles, and I want to be able to compete for as long as possible.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I will still be coaching collegiately because my kids are the most important thing to me, I hope I’m still a member of Team USA winning World Championships, and still competing and winning on the PWBA tour.
What does it entail to be a 12-time Team USA member?
It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication. Prior to last summer, there was no PWBA for 12 years, the only thing was a few Major tournaments and Team USA. Once the PWBA folded in 2003 the only thing there was to do and compete at the highest level was Team USA, so that was my goal and continues to be to this day. There is no better feeling in the world than competing for your country with your teammates and hearing your National Anthem play due to all of your hard work.
Can you share with me your awards and top finishes for your career?
I’m a six-time World Champion 2007 singles, 2011 team and trio’s, 2013 doubles and all events for 2015 team. I’m a three-time PWBA Champion in the 2015 Luci Mixed Doubles, 2016 PWBA Nationwide Sonoma County Open, and 2016 PWBA Pepsi Lincoln Open. I have also already qualified for two additional shows with a chance to win the beginning of August where they will be taped at the U.S. Open, PWBA Lexington Open and the PWBA Rochester Open. In 2007 and 2015, I was runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open. Additionally, I have one PBA Regional Title and one PWBA Regional Title.
Are there any bowlers in your family?
My dad bowled when we were kids, and if he won a tournament he would always stop at Toys“R”Us and buy us a video game, so we thought he won games when he bowled. Also my little brother started bowling in high school, which is why I started bowling. It was a great way for us to do something together. He was better than me, and that was not okay, so I practiced a lot, and now I’m just too competitive to not be good at something. The rest is history.
This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Rolling in the wins: O’Fallon’s O’Keefe bests in national championship."