Faith Through Failure at O’Dea

By Justin Laylo

Sports do not always go as planned at O’Dea High School. Injuries, transfers, and season-ending losses can test athletes both mentally and emotionally. At O’Dea, faith plays an important role in helping athletes handle disappointment and stay grounded through setbacks. Seniors Kingston Fotualii and Josiah Bowman both faced difficult challenges during their high school careers, but each learned valuable lessons through faith, support, and resilience.  

For Kingston Fotualii, his senior football season was filled with pressure and patience. An early injury kept him sidelined for most of the season, forcing him to watch instead of competing. 

“The hardest part was not being able to physically help the team,” Fotualii said. “I wanted to be out there competing with my brothers, but instead I had to watch from the side.” 

Even while injured, Fotualii stayed involved with the team. O’Dea football went back-to-back as state champions, and he continued to support his teammates while focusing on recovery. 

“Some things are just out of your control like my injury,” Fotualii said. “So I focused on things in my control like rehabbing my knee, coaching up the young guys, and trying to help in any way possible.” 

Faith played a major role in helping Fotualii through uncertainty.

“Faith ultimately carried me through the entire process,” he said. “Instead of asking, ‘Why me?’ I shifted my mindset to, ‘What are You trying to teach me, Lord?’ That change alone kept me going.”  

When Fotualii returned for the playoffs, the moment meant more than football. 

“After months of rehab and uncertainty, stepping back on the field was surreal,” he said. “Wearing that maroon and gold uniform with my brothers meant everything.” 

The setback taught him a lasting lesson. 

“Adversity doesn’t define who you are,” Fotualii said. “What defines you is whether you complain or choose to do something about it.” 

Josiah Bowman’s journey came with different challenges but similar lessons. After transferring to O’Dea his sophomore year to play basketball, Bowman was transfer-ruled and spent time on junior varsity instead of varsity. 

“It was hard, especially watching my fellow sophomore teammates get their shine on varsity,” Bowman said. “Yet this helped build persistence to keep working hard and being grateful that I got to play at all.” 

Playing JV and dealing with injuries helped Bowman adjust to his new environment. 

“JV helped me build my confidence within the O’Dea program,” he said. “My injuries gave me a chance to rest while still being present within the team.” 

Family support also played a key role. 

“My family encouraged me to make the most out of the opportunity I had and reminded me this would only make me better for the future,” Bowman said. 

Faith helped Bowman stay grounded as well. 

“Prayer and faith have played such a huge part in my career,” he said. “Without God, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now.” 

One of Bowman’s toughest moments came when the basketball team lost a game that would have sent them to the playoffs. 

“Losing early on last year was the biggest basketball failure I experienced,” Bowman said.

“But it motivated me to grind knowing my senior year was next.” 

Both athletes say O’Dea helped them grow through failure. 

“O’Dea has taught me how to stay resilient,” Bowman said. “Failure is good, because without it, there is no improvement.” 

Through faith, support, and perseverance, Kingston Fotualii and Josiah Bowman learned that setbacks are not the end, but an opportunity to grow beyond the game.