As a bitter chill moves in and replaces the falling leaves of autumn, a new season of sports start back up for their 2023-2024 season. One sport that is kicking off their season is bocce. Returning this year are seniors Wyatt Boyer, Brenna McIlvain, Anthony Battaglia and Steffan Paganie, as well as juniors Patrick Varner, Christopher Denkovich and sophomore Cayden Signorelli. These seven players made up last year’s bocce team, and continued playing this season. They welcomed a new player as well.
“We have four seniors, so I want this season to be one for them to remember,” Ms. Abygail Pritchard said.
Last year, led by their head coach, Ms. Kennedy Carnahan, and assistant coach, Mr. Steven Mott, the team worked with each other to achieve a 6-2 record. Stepping into this new season, the team has hopes to continue winning and improving their skills. Here to guide them is the new head coach, Ms. Hope Bennett, and assistant coach, Pritchard. Bennett is the new guidance counselor for Freedom, taking over for Ms. Rita Kaplin. Pritchard is also a new addition to the staff, taking over for Carnahan in the life skills class.
“I am super excited to be the new coach. I have never done Bocce before, so it is something new. The kids are awesome and are coaching me, so it makes my job really easy,” Pritchard said.
Working hand in hand with some of the members of the bocce team during the life skills classes provides Pritchard with an additional opportunity to get to know the players; however, ensuring that players and coaches alike can bond and get to know each other is crucial in this new environment.
“I like playing bocce because I get to hang out with my friends,” Varner said.
One way the team spends time together is through practices in the gym and within the halls. The team gathers for practices twice a week from 3-4 after school. Here, they can refresh their knowledge from last season, learn new techniques, and get a feel for the new dynamic of the team. While the seven players from last season know each other and the game from the prior season, junior Hailey Stinar joined the bocce team this year as a first-time player and will need to adapt to this new adjustment.
“I thought it might be interesting to get into another sport. I am excited to learn a new sport, it’s been a while since I have tried something new,” Stinar said.
This combination of players and coaches, both old and new, creates a new atmosphere for the bocce team that will only progress and strengthen as the season continues. Their first game is Dec. 21 against Beaver at home. Starting at 3:30 p.m., the team will get to showcase their preparation and experience their first game of the season. This is only the beginning for the team, as many games will follow and new bonds and memories will be created.