As the bocce team enters its third year, the team looks to continue its positive learning environment with a growth mindset while maintaining success. 

Bocce is the newest sports team at Poolesville. Unlike the other sports Poolesville has to offer, bocce focuses more on strategy rather than brute athletic force. 

“Bocce is less moving and more strategy,” returning junior Abigail Hoy said. “Compared to other sports like soccer and track which are more physically exhausting, bocce requires more thinking and it’s mentally more taxing.” 

While bocce’s focus is mental strength, it is also at its heart a team sport. Assistant coach Melissa Nagy described the best attributes of a bocce player as a student who is not afraid to try something new and who will encourage and support their teammates.

Junior Ben Savino, a new member of the team, has enjoyed his time with the team this season. He was drawn to bocce because it offered a means to participate in a winter sport without the intense competitiveness present in many other sports. He appreciates the relaxed and positive attitude that everyone brings to the team. 

“I am enjoying getting to learn a new and different sport,” Savino said. “The team seems super supportive and nice to be around.”

This positive team environment is echoed by other members of the team. 

“The team is pretty cool,” said freshman Francis Mureithi. “There are a lot of good players which is nice to play with. I clap and I cheer to support my teammates no matter what.”

This sociable environment doesn’t mean that the team lacks the desire to compete. Last year the bocce team went 9-3, leading them to their second consecutive division championship. The team ended their season with a 5th place finish at the Montgomery County Championships. This year the team has nearly 10 more players than it did last year, with 5 returning players on the team.

Led by head coach Thomas Lang, the team looks to continue its success and looks forward to positivity through competition, because as their team motto says, “That’s how we roll!” The bocce team has five matches this year, not including division and county championships. They opened the season with a 2-1 loss to Northwest, but rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Damascus. The schools that the team will compete against are Magruder, Clarksburg, and Quince Orchard.