This year, the bocce team has seen some pivotal changes, with the loss of major players from last year and a gain of five new members to fill their shoes. The team had to adjust to their new dynamics throughout the season by working together and bonding during practices to apply their skills and teamwork. Their new players have since then been determined to become vital members of the team and the returners have welcomed them with open arms. Since the beginning of their season, the team has been experiencing ups and downs while playing games.
“I think the season is going really well,” Hailey Stinar (12) said. “All of the new players are learning really quickly.”
On Dec. 9, the team traveled to their first scrimmage against New Brighton at 3:00 p.m. Later in the week, on Dec. 11 at 3:30 p.m., the Bulldogs hosted Shenango for another scrimmage in the Freedom gymnasium. On Dec. 16, they had their first official match of the season, as well as their last match of 2024, against Beaver. The games started in Beaver High School’s gymnasium at 3:00 p.m., where the team pulled one win and one loss. During the first game, they lost 7-2. However, in the second, they were victorious against Beaver with a final score of 4-2. From their initial defeat, they learned the importance of working and strategizing together for the best outcome of the game.
Starting off the new year, the bocce team hosted West Allegheny on Jan. 14 for a match beginning at 3:00 p.m. During the first game, Freedom won 8-3 against their opponents. They continued their winning streak in the second game, which ended with a score of 5-2, favoring Freedom.
The Bulldogs, after their win, had a brief break from playing matches for January, saving time for their dedicated practices. They did not have another match until Jan. 22 against Aliquippa, hosting their opponents in Freedom’s gymnasium. On Jan. 30, they traveled to Moon to face off in another match against the Tigers.
Throughout their regular season of bocce, they faced their share of losses and victories, both outcomes bringing them together as a team and shaping their skills and motivations. To drive them even further, the community, who attends both home and away matches, has played a crucial role in supporting the team and helping them remain positive to reach their goals.
“So far, I think bocce is going really well for me,” Mia Roncevich (10) said. “It was really hard at first with figuring out the rules and how it worked. It is also hard to figure out where the balls will go because the floor is often tilted, but I think I am getting better and it is a lot of fun.”