As winter sports continue, the bocce season is yet to draw to a close. Throughout the months of January and February, the team has experienced ups and downs, but overall, it has been met with a very rewarding season thus far.
A match at Central Valley High School was scheduled for Jan. 17, but due to weather conditions, and a flexible instruction day at Freedom, the match was canceled. It was then rescheduled for Jan. 23 at 3:00p.m. There, they had one loss with a score of 5-3 and one win with a score of 4-3. After that, on Jan. 24, the team had a home scrimmage against Beaver Falls, where they fell short 4-3 the first match and gained victory in the second match, the score being 10-1.
On Feb. 1, Freedom hosted Western Beaver for their first ever Senior Night game. At 3:15p.m., Senior Night festivities began. The first of these was the opening ceremony, where this school year’s four seniors, Anthony Battaglia, Wyatt Boyer and team co-captains Brenna McIlvain and Steffan Paganie, were recognized. Independent student gymnast, senior Daisy Lewis, was also honored at the ceremony. The match also had a 50/50 raffle off of prize baskets. All proceeds of the raffle went to the bocce team’s boosters.
“[Being recognized during Senior Night] felt great! When I was asked to be on the team three years ago I wasn’t sure. But looking back, I’ve never been prouder to join a team,” McIlvain said. “Bocce has impacted me in a number of ways. First, I’ve redefined what being an athlete is. I’ve realized it’s not needing to run across a field in a football game, or hitting a softball for a home run. Being an athlete can be as simple as having good sportsmanship and working hard with a team!”
The Senior Night game followed the ceremony at 3:30p.m.. The match concluded as Freedom won the first match 8-0 and lost the second to Western Beaver 6-4. On Feb. 7, the team played an away match versus Western Beaver. They won that match, taking a victory in a third period roll off. From there, the team began to make it to the playoff matches. They then had a playoff match later in the month on Feb. 21 at Moon High School.
The bocce team has worked hard throughout the entire season so far, and hopes to continue their current success streak during the rest of the playoff games.
“I admire [the students’] dedication to the sport, but I also am proud of their ability to work together, cheer on one another and display kindness,’’ Ms. Abigayle Pritchard, one of the bocce coaches, said. “I have had a wonderful time coaching the players and watching their growth throughout the season.”