We have talked about a lot of sports here on the Titan Times; basketball, track, soccer and football, but we have never talked about bocce, the state champs.
For the knowledge that I have, bocce is a simple game but a strategic one.
There is a yellow ball that someone throws on the floor and it stops at a certain point. After the yellow ball is stopped, each team has to roll a ball and the closest each ball is that’s how many points the team gets.
Bocce is such a fun sport to watch. I’ve tried playing it and it was really fun.
I have Luke Markward, Kyra Brockett, Tyler O’Brien here, all seniors at Tuscarora High School that are on the bocce team
My first question to them was: “how do you feel about the season after being a state champ?”
Markward then replied, “Feels pretty cool to bring back a state champ title, and my brother was a state champ so it’s good to carry it on.
Brockett says: “it’s cool I play volleyball and we were not state champs so it feels good.”
O’Brien says “it feels cool that bocce is a reflection of our school and we represent it very well.”
All three of these players are state champs and are very confident in their performance and play style.
I can see that Brockett learns something new every day when she tells me, “It’s always a learning experience and I improve every day ”
They all saw improvements from the start of the season and are very proud of how they are doing right now this deep into the season.
Markward sees improvement everyday but mainly in games. When I asked where they see improvements Markward says, “winning games against good teams and getting better as a Bocce player myself.”
Brockett replied to that with, “Our confidence has grown and we are not afraid to go for difficult shots and O’Brien with a similar answer: “Our matches since day one and everyone is more confident now.”
When playing a team sport you are always thinking about your team and how to help.
I then asked a question I think everyone playing sports needs to ask: “What can your team do better?”
They all had a different answer to tell me.
Markward says his way of what the team can do to get better is, “helping others and finding better strategy and working harder in practice.” O’Brien’s way is, “be more consistent in shooting and show up to practice more.” Brockett says, “We can communicate better to help each other.”
I hope all of their plans go the way they want so they can keep the title of state champs going.
They all have goals just like the rest of us in sports but there’s hits home because they wanna bring back another state title.
Markward tells me his goal is to, “Win a county champ to go to states and win back to back and keep the dynasty going.”
O’Brien’s goal is to, “compete for the state champ, play to have fun and enjoy time with the people I have before I graduate.”
Last but not least, Brockett’s goal is, “finish on a high note and it’s my senior year I want to bring another state champ title before I leave.”
All amazing goals and they have already improved a lot and they are getting better and better every day.
Give some love to the state champ bocce team as they keep going against amazing teams but never scared to beat them. Bocce will be the state champs again make sure to support.
