On April 13, GCISD’s Special Olympics student athletes will participate in an Inaugural Bocce Ball Tournament with School Resource Officers, Board of Trustee members, and Superintendent Dr. Brad Schnautz. To get ready, participants host monthly practices where they learn about how to play, the rules of the game and equipment involved.
“It’s really fun,” Cross Timbers Middle School sixth grader Melina Garcia remarked as she waited for practice to begin. “You learn to throw the ball, but not too hard because you want to make it with the perfect aim.”
Bocce Ball is new to GCISD Special Olympics this year.
“The intent of the tournament is to bring the community together and build awareness about our Special Olympics athletes,” said Kristy Webb, president of the newly-formed GCISD Special Athletics Booster Club.
Throughout the year Special Olympics student athletes also have opportunities to participate in community events such as the Grapevine Parade of Lights, an area basketball tournament, the Mustang-Panther Relays, and a spring banquet, to name a few.
Malorie Najera, Garcia’s mom, said that this is the family’s first year participating in GCISD’s Special Olympics.
“She loved bowling,” Najera said, adding that it “made her feel very accomplished.”
When the bocce ball tournament was announced Najera and her daughter decided to try it out.
“It’s a new learning experience for all of us,” Garcia said, “and, I’m making new friends.”
The tournament will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Grapevine High School’s Mustang Activity Center. The event is open to the public to cheer on the tournament players.