Just three years after its formation, the Unified bocce team at Elizabethtown Area High School has wrapped up a very successful season. The team, which features 10 members, took first place in its league at the end of February. The players went on to compete in regionals in early March, earning third place.

For both the players and the coaches, the bocce team has provided much more than an opportunity to take home a trophy.

"Unified sports programs, like bocce, help spread the message of inclusion beyond just the athletes," said Lacie Meyer, career pathway coordinator for the school and one of the team's two coaches. "It positively impacts the entire school community."

Unified sports teams combine approximately equal numbers of students with intellectual disabilities (the athletes) and students without intellectual disabilities (the partners). Elizabethtown's bocce team has five athletes and five partners.

"The excitement around the sport can build unity within the school and even extend to the local community," Meyer stated. "It really brings people together, promoting a culture of respect and understanding of everyone's differences."

Not all schools in the region have bocce teams. Elizabethtown competed this year against teams from Columbia, Manheim Township, Penn Manor and Lebanon school districts. Other districts with teams in the league include Solanco School District and Ephrata Area School District.

As Amy Robinson, school counselor and team coach, explained, the sport is easy to play but hard to master.

"Bocce consists of having two teams compete against each other with the goal of getting your team's ball closest to the pallino - a small yellow ball," she shared. "Each team gets four balls to roll. Our matches consist of two games that last 30 minutes each."

This season, she's seen a lot of growth from the players, she said.

"We feel like each year we get better and grow as a team," Robinson commented. "We are learning from each other and other teams on best ways to throw the ball, being more strategic with how we roll."

The biggest strengths of the team, Meyer said, include the social interactions, which promote relationship-building between players of varying abilities.

"This leads to better understanding and acceptance that fosters that inclusive environment," she said. "Their skill development has really come a long way since our first year. They develop both skills to play the game and social skills like teamwork, communication and problem solving."

While the team had a successful season, there is always room for improvement, Robinson remarked.

"We really want to work more on strategic play," she said. "During matches, our partners are allowed to coach the athletes, and the students do a great job of that, but what we really love seeing is the athletes starting to coach the partners. It shows they are learning and really feeling valued by their teammates."

Players on the Unified bocce team this year were Adrienne Crick, Cole Gillette, Juliana Gillette, Reagan Gober, Camielle Hardy, Abby Keener, Mark Kimmich, Daniel Polizzi, Gabe Rosenberger and Luke Rosenberger.

Gober, a senior, said playing on the team has provided both fun and an opportunity to challenge herself.

"I wanted to be a part of the team to spread more awareness to Unified sports and be an amazing teammate to all. I love hanging out and talking to everyone," she said, noting that she especially likes interacting with Camielle and Abby. "Being a part of a team and the atmosphere gives me something to look forward to each day, and I love the competitiveness I get each game."

Freshman Cole Gillette wanted to join the team because his sister, Juliana, is also a member.

"I enjoy helping the kids," he said. "You should join the team to build your resume and feel good about being a part of the team. It's interesting to not be the underdogs and have a chance to win."

Playing on the team this year was especially exciting, said junior Hardy, who joined because she thought the sport looked fun to play.

"(This season) has been amazing," she said. "We have never made it that far."

She noted that success has come for the teammates both on and off the bocce court.

"It is really fun, and you learn a lot about inclusion and teamwork," she said.