‘Bocce Bash’ athletes have a ball

 Sports are a favorite pastime for a lot of people in America, and it is no different for those with special needs. Those with special needs enjoy being competitive just like the rest of us. This past Saturday, they had the chance to shine at the Special Olympics, an event that took place at the Nelson Field House from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

            The event was organized by the Bocce Committee, which is made up of members from Special Olympics PA, comprised of 8 adults and 10 Special Education major students. Other organizations came to help out during the event, such as Phi Sig, Tri Sig, Chi Sig, Alpha Phi Omega, SWAT, and the Helping Others Club.

According to Gradie Carroll, director of the event, 81 teams signed up, but only 70 showed up. “We had double the amount of teams from last year,” said Carroll, “we had a few cancellations but still had a good turnout. The word is spreading.”

            There were 14 counties that attended this year’s Special Olympics, including Columbia-Montour, Potter, Team PA, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montgomery, Monroe, Centre, Northumberland/Snyder, Bucks, Allegheny, Delaware and Lancaster counties. Each county wore a different colored shirt to represent their county during the games.

            The main event of the day was the bocce ball tournament, a sport in which the goal is to roll slightly asymmetric balls, called bowls, closest to a smaller bowl called the "jack" or "kitty." Bocce ball is usually played outdoors on grass and synthetic surfaces, but the game can also be played indoors on synthetic surfaces.

 There were about 150 athletes that participated in the event, divided up into teams of two players. Athletes were smiling and pumping fists in the air, hoping for a win. “It really shows how people with special needs can compete and how they compete on a competitive level,” said Carroll.

            The bocce boards were stationed on one side of the gym, and community members and students were able to watch the event from the bleachers, while judges sat close to the game boards to compute scores.

            “The athletes’ ages ranged anywhere from 8 to 80,” said Carroll.

            The other half of the gym was set up with different stations that the athletes could visit in between game times. There was a bingo table, a craft table, and a bead-making table. Food was also available in the lobby, where family and friends were able to sit and enjoy one another’s company.

            Many of the athletes enjoyed the bead table, as stringing beads is therapeutic for them. Anthony Sabella of Montgomery County spent a lot of his time at the bead table, where he enjoyed making necklaces as he talked with his fellow athletes. “This is my good luck charm,” said Lisa Murphy, a Northumberland County player, as she showed him her pink and blue necklace.

            According to Michael Santangelo of Montgomery County, the whole day was fun for him. He talked about the few wins he had in bocce ball, the hoagie he had for lunch, then, he chuckled, and said “My favorite part is looking at all the girls!”

All in all, the event was a good time for the whole community, as everyone was able to get involved. Friends and family showed their support by attending the event, while student organizations were lending a helping hand in the process.