This story was updated at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 20.
A previous version of the article stated no Centre County team will be competing at the state championships in Hershey when BEA’s team 2 will be one of the eight teams participating in the championship.
CENTRE COUNTY — The 2025 WILDS Region Unified Bocce Competition comes to a close after another successful season of new additions.
Bocce made its first appearance in the Special Olympics in 1991. Since then, it has grown to high schools around the country and more specifically Pennsylvania.
The Special Olympics Pennsylvania combines intellectual disabilities with nondisabled students.
“The mission of Special Olympics PA is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community,” The Special Olympics Pennsylvania website says.
This year of the 400 Unified schools in the state, 297 competed in bocce. Eight of those teams, including one from Bald Eagle Area, made it to the Giant Center in Hershey to compete for the State Championship on Thursday, March 27.
Unified Bocce is much more than just a sport and so the goal each year is much more than just winning a trophy.
“Bocce is more than just a sport for our athletes — it’s a chance to build confidence, develop teamwork and make new friends,” Regional Executive Director for The Wilds, Melissa Rushefski said.
“Being on the Unified Bocce teams helps our athletes grow and feel supported, both on and off the court. The joy of inclusion shines through our coaches, volunteers and athletes … uplifting the entire community.”
Teams are composed of eight students with a minimum of three athletes and three partners. This year, with the addition of Penns Valley, all five public schools in Centre County were represented. The four schools outside of Penns Valley all boast two teams.
Centre County is a part of the Southern Wilds Region or Region 2. This season both Bald Eagle teams finished first and second in the regular season with over an 80% win percentage between the two.
Bald Eagle area team 2 will now go on to compete as one of the eight teams in the state championship event at the Giant Center in Hershey. The Bald Eagles will compete at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 27. The event is free and open to the public, but the event will also be streamed on the Eagle Ambassadors YouTube channel at youtube.com/@beaambassadors/streams.
Neither State College team was over 0.50, but their coaches are proud, nonetheless.
“Friendships, mentorships and the joy of competing are created through practices, travel to meets and the competitions,” State College coach Carolyn Kline said. “As the season progresses differences fade away and friendships grow.”
