Four Unified bocce teams from Charles County Public Schools high schools secured berths to the state finals after competing Tuesday at the Capital Clubhouse in a local qualifier that drew 17 squads from five schools.
Teams representing La Plata High School, Maurice J. McDonough High School, North Point High School, Thomas Stone High School and Westlake High School transformed one of the clubhouse’s rinks into a bocce court for the event. The top four advancing teams are McDonough Team 2, La Plata Team 3, La Plata Team 4 and North Point Team 2. These groups will compete in the state Unified bocce finals scheduled for February 10 at Hagerstown Community College.
In the game of bocce, teams of up to four players roll a larger ball—about the size of a grapefruit—underhand toward a smaller target ball called the pallino. The objective is to position their balls closer to the pallino than those of the opposing team. The sport traces its roots to ancient Rome, with the modern version evolving in Italy.
Unified sports, administered through Special Olympics Maryland, pair students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams. This approach promotes friendship, mutual understanding and inclusion by emphasizing joint training and competition. CCPS offers Unified bocce as part of its program, alongside fall tennis and spring track and field. Students in these Unified initiatives also support the Cool Schools Plunge, an annual fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics Maryland.
The Tuesday competition highlighted the growth of Unified sports in Southern Maryland’s public schools, providing opportunities for students across Charles County to participate in adaptive athletics. With 17 teams vying for limited state slots, the event underscored competitive intensity while aligning with the program’s goals of building community and skill development. The advancing teams now prepare for the statewide showdown, where they will represent CCPS against qualifiers from other Maryland districts.
This qualifier serves as a key step in the Unified bocce season, fostering teamwork and sportsmanship among diverse participants. Charles County’s strong showing reflects ongoing commitment to inclusive extracurricular activities in local high schools.
