02/16/22 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Parker Lucas, 16, of Bellwood-Antis High School tosses a bocce ball as visiting Hollidaysburg Area team members (from left) Cameron Piper, Andrew Muro and Shane Dodson watch during a match on Wednesday afternoon. The match was part of a Special Olympics PA Interscholastic Unified Sports Indoor Bocce competition comprised of students with and without intellectual disabilities.

Area high school students are bonding with their special needs peers through bocce ball, engaging in spirited but friendly competition in what players, their families and coaches describe as a unique experience.

Special Olympics of Pennsylvania’s Interscholastic Unified Sports program, which includes a bocce league, works with 91 schools from 12 counties, including Blair, as well as Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The bocce regular season runs between December and February, with tournaments held in March. The best Blair County team will advance to regionals, though a state competition will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jayce Miller, a senior at Bellwood-Antis High School, is on the school’s team with her brother, Jacob, a special needs student.

“It’s really cool being able to work with my brother and all of his friends from his classroom,” Miller said after a recent match against the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School team. “I think it’s a cool experience for me being able to get closer with him in this way, and for other people who aren’t familiar with people like my brother who get to spend more time with him and people like him and learn more about how to work with him.”

“I like how it’s not super fast-paced,” Miller said of bocce ball. “It’s a very patient game, and I think it helps teach everyone on the team about patience, and I like that.”

Miller’s mother, Jennel, has enjoyed watching her two children bond over the indoor game.

“It’s a very unique experience because when you have a special needs child and a typical child, there aren’t a lot of activities they can do together, but to see them together on a playing field where they’re working together is just a wonderful thing to see,” Jennel said. “Seeing everyone out there doing this wonderful thing and spreading awareness and acceptance, as a parent, is just such a wonderful thing to see. One of the benefits I see, we notice in the stands all the parents and grandparents and everyone just roots for everybody, and it’s not like the fierce competition in other sports; it’s more of a community.”

Bellwood-Antis coach Leah McNaul, an art teacher at the school, said the competitions typically draw an audience of 100 or more people.

“We try to really push for fans in the stands to get people to come out and show their support,” McNaul said.

Teams were unable to have a season last year due to the pandemic, so playing in front of a crowd this year is particularly special, McNaul said.

“We had some students who, for health reasons, could not be in close contact with people,” McNaul said. “That’s why we chose not to be active, but, this year, we have been full-force and have enjoyed our time together.”

McNaul said players and coaches are doing well navigating the pandemic and its challenges this year.

“We have chosen to, for those who feel comfortable, to socially distance and mask, and those who aren’t, we allow them that freedom as well,” McNaul said. “As a team, we’ve done really well with that.”

Hollidaysburg coach Bryan James is also grateful to have a season again. He said the community has been supportive of the teams as they transition back to normalcy.

“People are cheering and the kids get a feeling like they’re center stage; they’ve got a lot of people really rooting them on,” James said. “You’ve got the scoreboard lit up and it’s just a great experience for the kids in that aspect.”

Andrew Renyck, a player on the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School team, said he thoroughly enjoys the experience.

“It’s a lot of fun, and I think everyone on the team all has a good time,” Renyck said.

Renyck’s teammate, Cameron Piper, appreciates the fellowship aspect of the game.

“What I like about it is you make new friends,” Piper said. “No matter who wins or loses, it’s always about the fun and the fun time you have.”

“Naturally, I’m a pretty competitive person, but when we’re in this environment, you can’t help but root for everyone,” James said. “It doesn’t matter what color shirt the students have on — you just want to see them succeed; that’s what this is all truly about.”

Central High School coach Jody Seiler agrees there’s a bigger picture; it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, she said, adding that teams support each other amid the friendly competition.

“It is so nice to see the sportsmanship and camaraderie between the teams,” Seiler said. “We cheer after each team member throws the bocce ball, which results in lots of smiles.”

Seiler added that coaching is “one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.”

Seiler’s colleague, Shelley Claycomb, also coaches the Central High team.

“All participants root for each other, whether it is their own team or the competing team,” Claycomb said. “I have never sat in a gym as a spectator where the entire house is cheering for everyone. Visitors always leave the gym with a good feeling and a smile. As a coach, I want my team to win, but seeing what this sport means to all participants quickly makes me happy for each and every athlete’s success.”

Claycomb, who’s been a special education teacher for 18 years, enjoys seeing students with disabilities bond with their regular ed peers. It benefits both groups of students, she said.

“This experience has been life changing for both groups,” Claycomb said. “This is the first time that many of our students with disabilities have been a part of a sport or extra-curricular activity. They come to each practice full of life and cannot wait to socialize with the team. Many of them have stated, ‘I wish Bocce could be all year.’ Our partners, students without disabilities, have been blessed as well to see that, when given a chance to learn something new, they can become competitive and offer a great deal toward being a teammate.”

Seiler also enjoys watching the students form friendships through teamwork.

“It is an amazing moment to watch when our team is working together,” Seiler said. “They listen to each other, encourage each other and they truly have each other’s backs. The team members support each other both on and off the bocce court.”

“They don’t see each other as different,” Seiler said. “No one is a regular ed or special ed student; they are all just teammates and more importantly, friends.”

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.