Bald Eagle Area’s unified bocce team brings home another medal from state championship
Bald Eagle Area competed in the unified bocce state championship on Wednesday in State College, finishing in third place.
BEA competed against Central Columbia, Penn Cambria, Dallastown, Mifflin County North Penn-Mansfield, Northern York and Greencastle-Antrim. Unified bocce, which allows students with and without special needs to participate in the sport, has grown in popularity in central Pennsylvania schools in recent years.
In 2019, BEA’s inaugural year for unified bocce, the team took first place at the state tournament.
Eagles athletic director Doug Dyke said it’s important to make sports accessible to all students and create an environment for all to enjoy.
“I think it just reiterates how well our school district supports our special education students because I think we do as good as anyone in promoting our bocce program and making those kids feel like they’re athletes just like everybody else,” Dyke said.
Unified sports are a partnership between PIAA and Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Students who are eligible are up to age 21, enrolled in regular curriculum, receive services from school districts who are members of PIAA and aren’t playing a varsity sport during the same season.
