5th Annual Bocce Tournament Held at WHS

Recently, a day-long Bocce Tournament with 25 teams of high school students, including Student Council members and Special Olympians, was hosted at Westborough High School.  This joint effort between the Special Olympics of Massachusetts (SOMA) and the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils (MASC) is in its 5th year, and this is the 2nd year that Westborough has hosted the event.  Athletes, students, teachers and families from over 20 schools across the state gathered to play bocce, cheer each other on, officiate the games, run concessions and participate in other entertaining activities during the day.  This year’s SOMA/MASC Bocce Tournament was held on November 13th, 2016 and had a couple hundred people join in the fun.  Patti Doherty, Schools Director for Special Olympics of Massachusetts, was amazed at how the event has “just blossomed” since its inception.  Paul Branagan, State Executive Director for the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils, commented on how the coolest part of the program is the athleticism, partnerships, memories, and friendships between athletes and partners. “Authentic friendships have formed through this great program. [The program is a testament to] our mission of taking student leadership and Student Councils across the state and partnering with Special Olympics to really foster a sense of inclusion and acceptance in all of the schools in the state.”

Note: This video was edited by Maan Zaini, a Westborough High School Class of 2016 Graduate & former Special Olympian who participated in the 2015 Bocce Tournament.  He currently works as an intern for Westborough TV.