[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING BALD EAGLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED BOCCE TEAM ON STATE 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Bald Eagle Area High School unified bocce team, which recently brought 
home a State championship.
  It is only the unified bocce team's second season, and they have 
already been crowned the best in the State.
  The unified bocce team is made up of four students, four with 
intellectual disabilities and four without. This winter sport allows 
students with and without disabilities to participate in a competitive 
environment that promotes physical activity, sportsmanship, and 
socialization. Teams are made up of students with intellectual 
disabilities, known as athletes, and regular education students, known 
as partners.
  I am so proud of my alma mater for adopting the unified bocce team, 
which operates in conjunction with Special Olympics. In fact, multiple 
high schools in the region have unified bocce teams, including State 
College and Bellefonte in Centre County and Clearfield Area High School 
in Clearfield County.
  Bocce has become so popular at Bald Eagle Area that it started the 
season with two teams, a blue team and a gold team. The two met in the 
regional championship, with the gold advancing to states.
  The gold team's eight members include Chelsea Butterworth, Alyssa 
Packer, Nick Zink, Josh Zink, Fay Shaheen, Emily Gardner, Jordan 
Bonsell, and Bridget Esenwine.
  Mr. Speaker, Special Olympics Pennsylvania also hosted its third 
annual Unified Bocce Government Challenge on Monday in the east rotunda 
of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. The challenge paired 
various local organizational leaders, government officials, and 
legislative leaders with Special Olympics athletes for a fun, 
competitive, and social experience.
  I am so proud of our athletes, our partners, and everyone in the 
community who has supported the unified bocce team and the inclusion 
movement.
  The team had a hero's welcome home from Hershey in March when they 
won the State championship. About 100 teachers, parents, and students 
greeted the team when they arrived back at the school, with a fire 
truck escort leading the way.
  Congratulations to our State champs, the unified bocce team. Go 
Eagles!

                          ____________________