Bocce Ball at Central Mountain a success for all involved
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – It was an event with all the trappings of a play-off basketball game: cheerleaders, a pre-game coin-toss with captains, ovations for the participants, a filled student section, signs on the wall saluting the competitors, even referees and an enthusiastic PA system announcer. But this was no ordinary game at the Central Mountain High School gym on Monday afternoon.
It was the first-ever home bocce ball contest for the brand new Wildcat indoor bocce ball team. And while Central Mountain downed visiting Bellefonte by scores of 7-4 and 10-2, all the participants went home winners
Bocce is a Special Olympics sport providing participants with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. All of that was on display on Monday.
Afterwards Wildcat Coach Dana Robinson termed the event “amazing.” She said team members have had “so much fun” at practice and games, noting the positives from the Wildcats’ first event, a trip to State College last week. The coach said the sport “brings them out of their shell; they get to interact with everybody and really have a blast.”
Robinson thanked Central Mountain athletic director Stephen Hafele for his role in staging the event. Spectators included Keystone Central School District Superintendent Dr. Jacquelyn Martin who had advocated for the program to the district school board in November of 2020. Last year’s inaugural season was cancelled due to the pandemic, but the program has returned full-force this winter.
The Wildcats have one more contest on their schedule, at Bald Eagle Area on Friday, Feb. 11, at 4 p.m.
Central Mountain team members are Colby Heverly, Jevon Weidler, Ashley Rich, Ethan Hall, Emma Evey, Ava Bair and Natalie Young. Bellefonte participants were Alexa Steiner, KennyRusso, Zoey Nichols, Andrew McChesney, Tori Reichart, Laim Carey, Eden Guizar, Adam Marchini, Amber Keith, Natalie Sim, Savanna Knab, Sophie Reiter, Lillian James and Nathan Jewell.
With funding provided by Special Olympics, the program is for both Special Olympic athletes and non-Special Olympic students.
