Unified bocce team at North Allegheny brings together students with, without disabilities

Unified bocce finally is rolling at North Allegheny.

Unified bocce is one of the latest sports added to the NA athletic department. Unified sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It’s sponsored by the Special Olympics.

“I have loved bocce ball ever since I have joined,” said Brian Wach, a 12th grader from Franklin Park. “The games are a bit stressful, but hey, that is what it is supposed to be. Practices have been amazing. I get to be with a lot of my friends. I would advise it for anyone.”

Unified bocce is in its first year at NA, according to coaches Kami Ritter and Melinda Beck, who are special education teachers at NA, and coach Rachel Tengowski, an NA social worker. NA teacher Josie Carlton rounds out the coaching staff.

The sport promotes an inclusive environment.

“One of the biggest things is it increases exercise and movement,” Beck said.

When unified bocce opened up, more nondisabled students signed up than did students with disabilities, Ritter said. The team now has students on the autism spectrum; there are also some with Down’s Syndrome, intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities, or multiple disabilities, Ritter said.

“It’s wonderful for teaching life skills and social skills,” Tengowski said.

NA is 1-1, having lost it’s first home game, against Pine-Richland, on Jan. 18, but winning its very first match in December, an away game against Avonworth, though it was a close call. NA won after two tie-breaking rounds.

“Winning certainly was fun. The kids were excited to play. But it’s also about sportsmanship,” said Tengowski.

Unified bocce is open to students in grades nine through 12. It requires players to roll four balls with the goal of getting closest to an object ball, also known as a palina.

“I really like Bocce Ball. It is really fun,” said Aidan Mulkearns, a 12th grader from McCandless. “My favorite part is rolling the palina because you never know where it is going to go and it adds to the suspense.”

NA was on the waiting list for two years before being approved by the Special Olympics to begin the sport there, according to Ritter.

Several school districts in the area have the sport, and there are more than 200 unified bocce teams across the state, Tengowski said.

The athletes had to undergo normal pre-requirements like any other sport at NA, including getting a sports physical and concussion testing.

Students are really into the game, even wearing the team shirt to school when there isn’t a match. It’s fulfilling for Beck, who said this is her first time coaching any sport.

“I love it. It’s really great to watch the kids and get them involved. It’s amazing,” Beck said.

The group is divided into two teams, with both teams playing at each match.

The NA unified bocce team plays against Deer Lakes on Jan. 30 and against Shaler on Feb. 7. Both games are at 3 p.m.

The coaches said the rest of the NA district is very supportive. A mass email encouraged everyone to attend the game. NA’s football team, junior varsity cheerleaders, and lacrosse team attended the Jan. 18 game since it was the very first unified bocce home match. Jeff Jimerson, the Penguins National Anthem singer, sang the National Anthem before the match.