Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Team Gatesville athletes recently showed off their Bocce ball skills at the Area 12 Special Olympics Bocce Competition on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Korompai Soccer Complex in Temple.
The eight athletes who participated in the competition took home several gold and silver medals. In the Bocce singles, Olivia Aguilar, Caitlin Clough, Haley Garcia, Hope Lacefield, Tristen Tidrick, and Addison Van De Water received silver medals, and Jon Hannold and Kaisen Robinson received gold medals. Tristen Tidrick and Caitlin Clough also took home gold medals in the Bocce doubles.
“The coaches of Team Gatesville would like to congratulate our athletes on their dedication, sportsmanship, and success at area competition,” Team Gatesville Coach Heidi Clough said.
Clough said the team competes in the Bocce ball meet every year, and it is a favorite sport among all the athletes.
Team Gatesville athlete Olivia Aguilar, 14, competed in her first ever Special Olympics competition on Saturday. She said the best part of the Bocce competition was getting the opportunity to take a picture with the Chick-fil-A cow.
“I really like playing Bocce ball, and my favorite part is going to practice with the team every week,” Aguilar said.
Clough said the athletes prepare for the annual competition by not only practicing sport knowledge, accuracy, and physical fitness, but by also socializing and building camaraderie with their teammates.
“It is a privilege to be able to coach such outstanding athletes,” Clough said. “We are incredibly grateful to our families, volunteers, and the Gatesville community for their continued support and love.”
The Area 12 Bocce Competition is part of Special Olympics Texas, an organization that holds more than 300 competitions annually at area, regional, and state levels.
To learn more about Team Gatesville, visit the Team Gatesville Facebook page or email teamgatesville12@yahoo.com.
