Upperman senior Kalli Patton enters her final bowling season determined to build on a top-15 finish at the state tournament while helping younger teammates develop their skills.
Patton said her growth as a competitor has required learning to manage frustration when shots do not go as planned. She said the experience of competing at the state level has reinforced the importance of maintaining composure rather than allowing one disappointing frame to affect an entire match.
“I have to take a deep breath, I have to remember that it’s not all about the strikes and that I can’t get a strike every time, and it’s all really mental, and I have to remind myself to just calm down and throw another ball. At the end of the day, that’s just all I can do,” Patton said.
Patton said her approach to scoring has also changed as she has gained experience. Rather than relying entirely on strikes, she has learned that converting spares can make the difference between a strong performance and a disappointing finish.
“You can strike all day and not be able to spare, and that’s gonna bring your score down,” Patton said. “Consistency is how you really stay focused and stay on top of the game, and with staying focused and having a goal, that keeps you consistent.”
Patton said the intensity of major competitions has become something she welcomes rather than fears. She said competing against talented bowlers gives her additional motivation to improve and test the skills she has developed throughout her high school career.
“It’s all mental for me,” Patton said. “I like competition, so I actually strive on the pressure, so it gives me something to work harder for. it’s staying focused and not letting it get to me.”
Patton said she has also learned to recognize when adjustments are necessary during a match. She said identifying problems with her technique before they become recurring mistakes has become an important part of her development.
“If you don’t have patience, you’re gonna rush yourself, and eventually it’s gonna catch up to you and it’s gonna throw your whole game off,” Patton said. “Patience is something that you definitely have to have going into a game of just taking a step back and trying to figure out what you’re doing wrong and trying to fix it instead of rushing into it.”
Patton said bowling began as a casual activity during her freshman year but gradually developed into a serious commitment involving video study and lane analysis. She said the encouragement of her coaches and teammates has been especially valuable during difficult stretches of competition.
“My coaches definitely have never given up on me, they’ve never doubted me,” Patton said. “In times that I’ve doubted myself, they were very persistent on calming me down and saying that I’ve got this, and my teammates have always been by my side, even the ones that have graduated. They’re very supportive in all that I do.”
Patton said she now enjoys sharing what she has learned with younger members of the Lady Bees bowling program. As she prepares to conclude her high school career, she said her definition of success extends beyond tournament finishes and individual scores.
“I would say that I’ve disappointed myself many times, but at the end of the day, I’ve worked as hard as I can and I can safely say that I put all that I can into it. As long as I’m giving the best that I have, then that’s the best for me even if I don’t win,” Patton said.