The North Penn High School Unified Bocce Team is heading to the state competition at Desales University on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
The North Penn Columbia Team won the Montgomery County Regional competition on February 28 to qualify for the state competition, defeating North Penn’s own Navy Team. The Columbia team will face off against teams from across the state, vying for the title of Unified Bocce State Champions.
To prepare for the upcoming state tournament, the Navy and Columbia teams faced off against North Penn faculty, staff, and administrators in an intense competition. The teams beat the faculty, five games to three, with two ending in a tie. It was a friendly but fierce competition with the North Penn champions ultimately securing the win against faculty.
“The North Penn Unified Bocce teams worked so hard to make it to the state tournament, and we are so proud of their accomplishments,” said Susan Ahart, Unified Bocce Coach and Special Olympics Advisor at North Penn High School. “The bocce team represents the best of what we can accomplish when we all work together.”
The NPHS Unified Bocce Team was formed during the 2017-2018 school year. They captured the state title in 2018 and have nearly tripled their roster since. Bocce is a PIAA-sponsored Special Olympics sport providing students with and without disabilities the opportunity to compete together. Through that competition, all students have the opportunity to develop their social and physical skills, as well as gain self-confidence.
The State tournament will be held at Desales University on March 22. For more information, please visit https://specialolympicspa.org/.