The lanes at Bowlero in Southcenter Mall were anything but quiet. Cheers echoed from nearby teams, pins crashed down the lanes, and bowling balls thundered across polished wood. Among the chaos, Seattle Preparatory School’s girls bowling team remained focused, proving that composure mattered just as much as form.
After winning the Metro League Championship last season for the first time in school history, the Panthers entered this year with high expectations. This year, at the Metro League Championships on January 21, they finished just 20 pins short of first place, narrowly missing the title. Deborah Bogale ‘27 said it did not shake her confidence. “I knew that we had bigger things to face as a team, like districts and state,” she said. “It made me focus on what was to come rather than being upset with what just happened.”
Between Metro championships and then districts, Bogale said her focus shifted inward. “During practices I needed to focus more and really figure out what works for me and what doesn’t,” she said, adding that maintaining a positive team mindset was just as important.
Winning districts brought both relief and confidence after the loss at Metro. “All of the hard work that was put in during countless practices was showing in multitudes,” Bogale said. “I was so proud of our team for winning.”
As expectations rose, so did internal pressure. Bogale said she began setting higher standards for herself and learning how to respond when she fell short.
“When I couldn’t reach them, I would get upset,” she said. “I’ve learned that rather than staying upset at myself, I need to ‘flip it’ and change my mentality and focus on the steps I need to take to get to my goal.”
For junior Mahta Teamrat ’27, staying focused during high-pressure matches meant finding calm through faith and trust in her teammates.
“Our team was created on a foundation that was built on trust and constant growth,” Teamrat said. “During state, me and Dahlia [Wallace] saying the Our Father helped me stay centered under pressure.”
Beyond physical skill, the team emphasized mental health as a key factor in its success. Bogale said emotional balance affected not only individual players but the entire group.
“When one person is upset, it can change the energy around us,” she said. “It impacts the game of others as well.”
When morale dipped, she made an effort to bring teammates together to reflect, reset, and refocus.
That mental reset became critical at state championships. While the team finished fifth, narrowly missing a trophy, senior Dahlia Wallace ‘26 said she refused to dwell on the past.
“Thinking about what could’ve been is a waste of time,” Wallace said. “What’s important is putting in the work and having a positive mindset.”
By the end of the season, the Panthers’ success extended beyond wins and placements. The bonds they formed became just as meaningful as their achievements, showing how mindset and teamwork shaped their journey.
“As a team, we’re like a family,” Bogale added. “There’s never a practice, car ride, dinner, or game that goes by where we aren’t laughing.”
