On Friday, March 18th, two Philadelphia High Schools woke up early to represent their schools in the IUS State Bocce Championship 2016 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. A team from George Washington High School and High School of the Future boarded a bus around 5:00am at their respective schools to begin their journey to the IUS State Bocce Championships.

Once in Hershey, Pennsylvania, our two Philadelphia teams met up with eight fellow IUS Unified Bocce Teams from four counties: Baldwin High School (Allegheny County), Beaver Falls High School (Beaver County), Carlynton Junior-Senior High School (Allegheny County),  Central Valley High School (Beaver County), Marple Newtown High School (Delaware County), and Upper Darby High School (Delaware County). The IUS Stat Bocce Championship started at 9:00am after Opening Ceremonies.

High School of the Future joined Baldwin High School, Central Valley High School, and Marple Newtown High School to form the Red Division while George Washington High School joined Beaver Falls High School, Carlynton High School, and Upper Darby High School to form the Black Division. High School of the Future’s first game was against Marple Newtown at 9:00am. George Washington High School’s first game was against Upper Darby High School at 9:45am. 

All of the teams gave it their all to get the gold. With family and friends cheering them on from the sidelines and teammates cheering and guiding on the court, every school gave their best effort. Ultimately, George Washington High School came in fourth in the Black Division and High School of the Future came in third in the Red Division. Congratulations to all of the schools! 

CBS21: State Hosts high school Bocce championship at Hershey

PHOTOS

This past Tuesday and Thursday, Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia held our first IUS League Bocce games! It was exciting to see so many athletes and partners take the court to show off their bocce skills and show great sportsmanship after their individual game concluded. George Washington High School hosted our first games on Tuesday, February 9th and Abraham Lincoln High School hosted our second games on Thursday, February 11th. Thank you to both schools for being incredible hosts and opening your gyms for other schools and our volunteers and making sure everyone felt welcomed!

In total there were 19 teams participating from 7 schools between both days. Schools who came out were: Abraham Lincoln High School, George Washington High School, High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, High School of the Future, Parkway West High School,   Simon Gratz High School, Thomas Edison High School. The competition was intense, yet full of energy. As an athlete or partner lined up to roll, there was almost complete silence on the court. As the bocce ball found it’s final resting place, the team would who rolled would erupt in cheers and clapping. With all of this excitement from the league games, we can’t wait to see what the Championship on Thursday, March 3rd at Thomas Edison High School brings!

Tuesday’s results:

George Washington: Washington, High School of the Future: Future, Simon Gratz: Gratz, Thomas Edison: Edison

Thursday’s results:

Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln, HS of the Creative and Performing Arts: CAPA, Parkway West: Parkway

Photos:

For more photos, please click here.

On Thursday, December 10^th, Special Olympics Philadelphia held its 1st Elementary and Middle School Bocce Tournament. Twenty teams made up of over 100 students from Penrose, Austin Meehan Middle School, and Universal Daroff Charter participated in what was sure to be remembered event. The energy and excitement level rival a Friday night football game. Athletes and partners alike, cheered on each other as awards were handed out. Austin Meehan swept the top three spots in the middle school competition. Penrose took home first at the elementary level while Universal Daroff Charter rounded the medals out with silver and bronze. We are looking forward to next year’s competition already.

Huge thank you to Penrose Elementary School for hosting this historic event! Thank you to all of the coaches and principals from Penrose, Austin Meehan and Universal Daroff as well as the Philadelphia School District for your continued support and for helping make this dream a reality! An additional thank you to all of the volunteers who helped run this event!

Villanova University’s campus turned into an underwater adventure land between Friday, November 6, 2015 and Sunday, November 8, 2015 for the annual Fall Festival. The theme was Dive in as Athletes, Emerge as Champions! Our athletes dove in and with hard work and determination and our Athletes Emerged as Champions. Our athletes dominated the field/court in Soccer (5v5, 7v7, and skills), Volleyball and Bocce! We even had an athlete help clinicians during Healthy Athletes!

Preliminary competition started Friday afternoon. Based on performance, our teams were placed in their division for Saturday’s competition. Based on Saturday’s performance, our teams were then scheduled for the medal rounds held on Sunday. Between competitions, our athletes enjoyed activities at Olympic Town and/or get screened at Healthy Athletes. Beyond competition, our athletes enjoyed a dynamic Opening Ceremony with guest speaker Villanova Men’s Basketball Coach, Jay Wright, who at Opening Ceremonies told all athletes that Villanova’s house was their house for the weekend. On Saturday evening, our athletes let loose on the dance floor at the Victory Dance! The weekend concluded with Closing Ceremonies where the committee premiered their recap video (shown below – can you spot our Philly athletes?!?!?) and wished all athletes safe travels home. We can’t wait for the 2016 Fall Festival! 

Results:

Bocce
Pam Galone & Raymond Anderson,  Traditional Team – 3rd Place

Kirstyn Cantres & Kevin Karcher, Traditional Team – 1st Place

Lenny Lutts Sr. & Lenny Lutts Jr.,  Unified Team – 1st Place

Soccer:

Stars & Stripes (5v5)  – 1st Place

Emmett Abdo, Ronald Atkins, Lisa Barbour, Edwin Ian Capacio, Allison Davidson, Eddie Glover, Jackie Lutts, Kristie Walls, Michael Weinberg, David Brent Williams

Philly Phlash (7v7) – 3rd Place

Matthew Beckman, Ryan Bogan, Daniel Charlton, Matthew Grabowski, Carl Irvis,  Angel Rodriguez, Jesse Rose, Joseph Rynkiewicz, Mitchel Stahl, Brian Stulz, Charles Zisette 

Soccer Individual Skills

Nick Uhniat- 1st Place

Kayla Atkins – 2nd Place

Marlene Johnson – 4th Place

Lafayette Charleston -4th Place

Volleyball Individual Skills

James Shelton – 3rd Place

Video recap:

via Villanova Television. 

Fox 29 Weekend News, Lauren Dugan Covers the Pennsylvania Special Olympics

Photos from 2015 Fall Fest:

Philadelphia’s 5-a-side soccer team, Stars and Stripes, after earning the Bronze Medal during the impressive showing at the Fall Sectional

On October 5, 2013, Special Olympics Pennsylvania head their 2013 Eastern Fall Sectional at East Stroudsburg University. The Philadelphia local program had an impressive showing at the fall sectional as athletes competed in soccer, bocce, volleyball, powerlifting and long distance running and walking were the sports offered at the Fall Sectional. Three bocce teams, two soccer teams (a 5-a-side team and a 7-a-side team), and a volleyball team represented the Philadelphia local program. The Eastern Fall Sectional is held to determine which athletes qualify for Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival, hosted by Villanova University. After a day of intense competition, we are proud to announce our teams had an impressive showing at the fall sectional.

Results:

• Soccer (5v5) – “The Stars and Stripes” earned Bronze. (Alternative for Fall Fest)
• Soccer (7×7) – “The Kicks” earned Gold. (Advancing to Fall Fest)
• Volleyball – “The Spike Blasters” earned Bronze (Advancing to Fall Fest)
• Bocce – Two doubles teams earned Silver in their divisions, one doubles team won Gold in their division 

Congratulations to all of our talented athletes and our coaches who helped them achieve their medals!