Women's Bowling | 10/17/2025 12:52:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
The engineering brain wants to break down problems, work on solutions and do it all in an organized, efficient manner.
That is often a good way to problem-solve, unless you're a high-level bowler and your mind is racing as you approach the foul line.
Aleesha Oden is learning to slow down and let her talent take over as one of Wichita State's top bowlers.
"I think very analytically, and I think a lot at once, so my mind can get going very quickly when I don't have it figured out," said Oden, a junior majoring in product design and manufacturing engineering. "It's about taking a second to breathe and just think about one thing at a time."
The Shockers, ranked fifth nationally, open their season with exhibition competition on Friday vs. Sam Houston State and Oklahoma Christian at Rhatigan Student Center. On Saturday and Sunday, the Shockers compete in the Mid-States Championships at Bowlero Northridge.
Oden played a major role in last season's Final Four berth and Conference USA title by peaking late in the season. Her mindset gave her more consistency and she recovered from a left arm injury that slowed her early in the schedule. Her strike in the NCAA Lansing (Mich.) Regional match vs. Vanderbilt sent the Shockers to the Final Four in their first season as an NCAA program. She earned Most Outstanding Bowler honors at the CUSA Tournament.
"She's done a really good job over the summer of slowing it down and figuring out what works for her to slow it down," coach
Holly Harris said. "When things aren't going right for her, she can get fast and into the 'Why, why, why?' The biggest improvement from her over the summer is in her brain."
Oden, from Council Bluffs, Iowa, followed that up with a strong summer. She won the United States Bowling Congress under-22 Queens tournament in May and finished No. 45 in the U.S. Women's Open in June.
"She was really confident at the end of last season," Harris said. "That allowed her to continue that confidence into the summer, and it feels like that hasn't let up at all."
That change in approach includes Oden reminding herself that once she releases her bowling ball, her work is done. The results, from there, may depend on oil patterns and the randomness of a pin bouncing into other pins.
"A year ago, I was really results oriented," she said. "I was only confident if was striking or hitting the pocket, or if I had it figured out. Now, I'm going to hit my target and whatever happens, happens. I'm shifting to process-oriented and giving myself praise for sticking to my process."
Wichita State's big lesson from its first season in the NCAA is also part of the process. NCAA play puts a premium on head-to-head competition that the USBC did not. Every match counts toward the power ranking, which means a morning match on the first day of a tournament is important for NCAA at-large positioning and NCAA seeding.
"A match can get really intense at 8 a.m.," Oden said.
The qualifying format in USBC tournaments afforded Harris more latitude to stick with a struggling bowler early in the weekend because wins and losses vs. other schools wasn't a factor.
"We've switched practices to be a little more competition-focused, while still developing them," she said. "You've got to keep the pedal down all the time. We're putting them in more positions where they can feel the pressure."
The Shockers also return All-Americans
Paige Wagner,
Ashtyn Woods and Sara Duque Jimenez. Jimenez earned NCBCA Player of the Year honors. Freshman
Kendall Bollea is expected to contribute immediately.
Harris uses last season's success as an instruction tool, again focusing on the process.
"We talk about the 'Why,'" Harris said. "It wasn't magic. We just put our heads down and worked really hard."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit
GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
