This year, Warren Area High School got a new sport, bocce. Bocce, invented in Italy, is a game of strategy and skill. It involves rolling larger balls towards a pallina.

“We are so happy to have a new sport here. We are so proud of our team,” said tenth grader Jacob Elmquist. 

The new bocce team and Youth Leadership Club are sponsored by Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program. These programs are designed to promote whole-school engagement, where students who have disabilities and those who don’t are routinely included in all parts of school life, including sports and leadership clubs. 

The Youth Leadership Club supports the bocce team through fundraising efforts, like selling homemade muffins and lattes. 

“I like how nice the people are,” said Keely Southworth. “I helped win our first match in Maplewood. I got into bocce by having my friends talk about it and signing up. It’s fun.” 

Southworth explained that players roll the ball to the pallina, which is a smaller, white ball. The bocce balls are green and red balls. Each team gets four balls, and they only roll the pallina once. After that, players roll the larger bocce balls toward the pallina. The team with a ball closest to the pallina wins the round and scores one point for every ball that is closer to the pallina than any of the other team’s balls. If the pallina gets knocked off the court or back across the center line, the round ends with no points awarded.

According to SOUCS, the benefit of bocce teams in high school is that students develop athletic skills and form new friendships while gaining respect for each other. The program encourages students to become leaders on and off court. 

“I got into bocce because my teacher talked about it. We had to have a physical, and we had to practice for two months to get ready,” Southworth said. 

Tenth grader Julia Getner got into bocce ball when her sister told her about it, she said. “I like how it includes everyone,” she said. “The game isn’t just about skill.” 

Twelfth grader Sophia Walker agrees, “It’s a great opportunity for all the kids. It’s an easy sport. We practice three times a week, and it builds friendships.” 

For more information about WAHS’ bocce team, visit them on Instagram @wahsbocce.