Silence fills the air as the bocce ball rolls across the ground towards a small yellow ball, the pallina. Cheers and shouts of “nice job!” coming from the audience or one of the coaches fill that silence after the bocce settles, no matter how far but especially when it is close.
On January 13, the unified bocce team played against Academy Park for the first time, losing in both matches– 6-4 in the first match, and 12-1 in the second.
Despite the loss, many players contributed points, building teamwork.
“There are some days where you’re going to have a good day, some days when you’re going to have an off day, and I think today I was just lucky enough to get [a] point,” senior captain Brandon Juliano said.
The team also celebrated seniors Lara Bruno, Julia Feldman, Lucy Hewitt, Owen Imbrogno, Brandon Juliano, Josie Tolson, Timothy Turner, Matteo Ventresca, and Declan Zeserson, sharing decorative posters with pictures of them and handing them a single rose.
“It’s really nice to celebrate, especially with the students who have been playing since freshman year,” special education teacher and unified bocce head coach Ms. Sarah Holt said. “We have four players who have been on the team since freshman year, and so it’s really exciting to have seen them grow as people and athletes in the last four years.”
Some players look ahead from the loss towards the future of playing together as a team and the possibility of championships.
“I’m most looking forward to being able to play with the team again and getting more practice with the team,” Juliano said. “I think it’s certainly going to help us in the later run, and if we do make it to the championships, we’ll be doing it together instead of just solo.”
The team will travel to Sun Valley High School on Thursday, January 23 at 3 p.m., looking to keep their playoff chances in sight.
“I think we’re going to win this next one,” bocce player Olive Ricci-Upin said.
