Frenship students won five gold medals, five silver medals, two bronze medals, and one fourth place ribbon.

Frenship ISD Adaptive PE Coach Aaron Tomlinson explained the game of bocce ball, “The basic principle of the sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a pallina.”

Tomlinson said events like this help build physical and emotional strength in participants.

“It helps our students feel accepted and included among people with and without intellectual disabilities,” Tomlinson said. “This competition was very exciting for our kids because they worked extremely hard in practice leading up to the competition, and they were able to put their skills they had learned on display for their families.”

Alisha Harrist, a Life Skills Teacher at Legacy Elementary, said the students trained for several months before going to the competition.

“The competition and doing the best they could was their motivation to learn how to play bocce ball,” Harrist said. “As we got closer to the competition date, the more excited the kids became. They loved to encourage and cheer each other on from the sidelines.”

Harrist said staff made adjustments to the game to ensure all students could participate. 

“Vicky Cuervo (TVMS Special Education Assistant) and Coach Tomlinson also worked hard to create a way for one our students to be able to participate independently,” Harrist said. “The student used a pool noodle that was placed by her foot so that she could kick it and propel the ball that was placed on a ramp. It was amazing to watch.”

Tomlinson said the successful event was thanks to Frenship staff members that were able to help coach, prepare, and compete in the competition.

“A special thank you to Cody Coyle, Stacy French, Vicky Morales Cuervo, Denise Bocanegra, Chasity Doherty, and Brooke Frizzel for helping with practices and everything involved leading up to the competition,” Tomlinson said. “It went great and would not have happened without these individuals. The smiles on the students’ faces when they received their medals showed how excited they were, and made all the hard work worth it.”