While the bocce team fell short of the playoffs, they are proud of the work they did and the season they had. As the season ends, they look at remembering the year and honoring the team’s seniors.

On Jan. 22 the team celebrated the seniors on the team at the last home game. Before the game, all the senior players’ names were announced, as well as their future plans, as they walked across the gym with their families. Students got to pick a teacher to invite to the game and thank them for the impact they had on their education. There are three seniors on the team this year: Christopher Denkovich (12), Hailey Stinar (12) and Harmony Martin (12).

The team is in the Beaver South division. In this division, teams have to be in the top four seats to make it to the playoffs. The seats are determined by the average number of points scored during the season. The team made it to the fifth seat in their division and fell short by one-fourth of a point.

This year, the team faced the challenge of having five new players. This was a big adjustment, as more than half the team was new to the game. While all the players put in their best work, learning a new game takes time and practice.

“Everyone that played bocce this year came in with a positive and amazing mindset to help the athletes and grow in the sport. It was amazing overall to see what every student contributed to this year’s season,” Ms. Abigayle Pritchard, coach, said.

This year, they focused on building relationships throughout the team and working together. With more than half of their team being new to the sport, they needed to spend time team building and getting to know one another. One of their main priorities was reviewing the game to make sure that everyone knew the basics. They spent their time practicing trying to learn the ins and outs of the game while also trying to improve.

To celebrate the end of the season, the team will be holding a banquet on March 6 for the players and their families. This allows everyone on the team to celebrate and remember all the things that happened during the season. This also allows parents to see the achievements their child had during the season if they were unable to attend all of the games.

As for next season, the team is hopeful that they will have more returning members, building a strong team with a basic knowledge of the game. They also plan on learning new techniques and strategies, which helps them gain more knowledge and leads to more victories. While it is still very early, the team is excited to show growth and improvements next season.

This is a bittersweet moment for many players on the team as their first or last season is ending. This season provided players with the opportunity to learn new skills and foster their love for the game.