Members of the Bocce Team pose on the sidelines of their match

Photo courtesy of UHS Bocce

Jacqueline Wong ‘27

REPORTER

his winter season, the Unionville bocce team has been busy winning matches and promoting their recent fundraiser, the Polar Plunge. Here’s more insight on what it’s like to be a part of this supportive and inclusive team:

Typically on the day of a match, the team prepares ahead of time by working out for 5-15 minutes. These workouts consist of stretching and walking a lap around the school, where they share how their day is going. Once they’ve finished, they’re ready to play.

During their matches, the group is split up into the gold team and the blue team. They’ve proven to have excellent performance with the gold team winning 6 matches, and the blue team winning 3 matches. These outstanding results have given both teams the honor of going to districts.

When asked about specific factors that help lead to a win, senior bocce player Fiona Avondolio said, “The main factor would be communication, which could include giving your strategy and advice to players, talking to the people on your bench, [planning] out ahead of time, [and knowing] everyone’s strengths and adjusting to the game play of the other team.”

Aside from their matches, the team’s Polar Plunge has also found much success. This year, those who participated ventured into the city of Philadelphia. At an above ground pool by Citizens Bank Park, they willingly lined up in freezing temperatures to jump into the even colder water. Though the plunge was frosty, the goosebumps and shivers were clearly worth it. The fundraiser crushed its initial goal, raising over $10,000 for the Special Olympics. This outcome has been made possible with the help of their enticing commercial on the morning announcements, teachers, students, family, and the support from the community.

On the bocce team’s impact, Avondolio said, “It makes sure that [students with disabilities] have the opportunity to have out-of-school activities, [bond] with other people, and [form] connections.” Additionally, she included that, “The biggest values [of the team] would be inclusivity and teamwork.”

Altogether, the team takes pride in encouraging students with disabilities to have fun, which, according to Avondolio, is “ultimately, the biggest thing.”