Clarion Area Bobcats Unified Bocce Team Moves On To Regionals With Third Place Finish In Sectionals
Photos courtesy of Maria Wilson – Above: Team members proudly displaying their Bronze Medals: Front Row (L-R) Jack Staley, JJ Moll, Kara Wilson, Amerie O’Neill. Back Row (L-R) Nic Stefanos, Jake O’Neill, Marley Kline, Gabe Anderson, Assistant Coach Julie Johnson, Head Coach Jill Babington, Malachi Carico.
In their historic first year, the Clarion Area Bobcats Unified Bocce Team has delivered on another historic first, as they captured Bronze at the Sectional Championship Tournament at Greenville High School, which included Divisions 4-6, on Thursday, February 19th, providing for another historic first as they move on to the Northwest Regionals to be held at Alleghany College in Meadville on Tuesday, March 5th.
Regionals will also include athletes and teams from Divisions 1-3 who held their Sectional at Erie.
Each division has four to eight teams that they played during the regular season.
The time is yet to be determined. (CSZ will announce the time as soon as we know, in hopes that you will be able to turn out to the meet to cheer the Bobcats on.) The winner of Regionals will move on to the State Championship, scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th in Hershey
I have for years been a fan of Yogi-isms (famous sayings by the late Yankee Hall of Famer – Yogi Berra). One of my favorites is “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
There is no more fitting discription of the way the tournament played out for the Bobcats at sectionals.
Exact same place finish, exact same way they moved to sectionals from the local Unified Bocce league, exact same way they earned third place, exact same athlete with the winning toss. Just the names of the teams have changed.
No, you can’t make this stuff up.
Clarion Area head coach, Jill Babington was overjoyed with the tournament from start to finish. “Yesterday was one of the greatest events I have ever been a part of.
“The afternoon started with the Olympic Torch Ceremony followed by the introduction of the teams and players. Everyone was positive and supportive of every player.
“The excitement was electric at the Unified League Bocce Ball Tournament as our team battled through an unforgettable day of competition.
“After winning our first game against Meadville, falling short in the second to Wilmington Area, and fighting hard in the third against Greenville, we won our spot in regionals with determination and heart.”
Hopes of moving on all came down to the wire.
“The final match came down to the last frame, with the score tied and everything on the line.”
The toss that clinched Bronze.
“In a moment no one will forget, JJ Moll delivered a perfect throw, gently placing his ball between two of our opponents landing directly next to the pallina to score the winning point.”
What a moment of Joy it was for JJ, the team and the fans.
The Response of the Clarion Area Unified Bocce members and their fanbase.
“The crowd erupted in cheers as teammates and fans celebrated the incredible comeback.”
What are the takeaways Coach Babington would like us all to come away with?
“Bringing home the bronze medal was a proud moment for our entire school community, a testament to our students’ resilience, teamwork, and belief in one another. Julie Johnson (Assistant Coach) and I could not be prouder of these kids.
“They have worked hard and are so supportive of one another. We feel that their belief in one another and their ability to bounce back from either a bad throw, frame or game is what has brought them this far.
“We are excited to see what we can do at the Regional competition.”
(Congratulations to Clarion Area High School Unified Bocce and the entire community!!!! Have a great Regional Tournament along with your great fan base!!!!
A big thank you to Coach Babington for her extensive work in, providing quotes and helping me with the formulation of this article, and to Maria Wilson for her work photographing, providing me with a simple means to download load photos to choose from and to both Maria and Coach Babington for providing caption information. If you see either of these fine ladies, thank them for their hours of hard work on this article!!!!)
LINK TO PREVIOUS ARTICLE – IT INCLUDES DISCRIPTION OF GENERAL BOCCE RULES AND GOLDEN FRAME RULES AND COACH BABINGTON’S PLAY-BY-PLAY OF THE ACTION