Strategy, confidence, inclusiveness and unwavering support are just some of the hallmarks of success for the Salisbury High School Unified Bocce Ball team.

This season marked the second year of competitive play and the team, consisting of regular and special education students, swept through both districts and regionals to earn a spot in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. state championship tournament where they attained a fifth-place finish – quite an accomplishment for a fledgling team.

Coaches Maia Geiger and Ashley Nagy, new to Bocce themselves, said the team spent last year learning how to play the game. This year, having peaked at just the right time, they learned to win.

The state tournament showcases the top eight teams out of 500 teams in the state.

Bocce, a game which originated in Italy, is played with colored balls and a small yellow ball called a pallino.

Once the pallino is thrown the goal is to place as many of your team’s balls as close to the pallino as possible to score points. This requires precision, strategy and a cool head.

The Press caught up with the team during its last practice before the state championship and saw how teammates work together to support each other.

Coaches call out “hard or soft” to remind players to think about how far away the pallino is and the amount of force needed to roll the ball into scoring position. What is evident is that win or lose, teammates encourage, counsel and cheer each other on at every turn – which may be the secret sauce in the team’s recipe for success.

Team member Olivia Carney, who also serves the team as the cheerleader, said how much she loves being on the team with her friends and is excited to have her parents and grandparents watch her play while Kevin Martinez reports he loves winning and getting the chance to win a medal.

Support for this team runs deep.

Geiger remarked the team has a huge fan base as family and friends travel to watch the team play no matter how far away. At the high school, the team garnered celebrity status; a school-wide parade was held as the team marched through the hallways, posters were hung and students were encouraged to wear blue and white to support the team.

Looking ahead to next season, James Scialla is the only senior on the team and he will be taking his state championship experience with him as he heads to the University of Scranton in the fall.

He remarked he enjoyed the positive relationships he has built while making new friends as part of the team and he will definitely come back to watch the team play next season.

It would be unrealistic to think every year will be as successful as this year but that all depends on whether you measure success in wins or losses or personal growth and inclusivity.