The pressure was on for the Tyrone Unified Bocce team to qualify for the playoffs after making the postseason for the first time in school history last year. Unfortunately, Tyrone’s season went off the rails early as both teams started 0-2, and their hope of making the playoffs was almost out of the picture.
However, after losing to Tussey Mountain at home on Senior Night and then failing to win a single match at the LHAC championship, the team vowed to change their mindset.
Instead of focusing on winning, the team focused on just having fun at the games, and the change worked.
Tyrone beat Southern Huntingdon and Huntingdon and scored just enough points to qualify for districts.
“At one point, I thought we would not get there. It’s exciting for the players to be able to get this opportunity,” Coach Shannon Davis said.
Overall, the season was a tale of two halves: before and after the LHAC Tournament.
After starting the season with a scrimmage win against Bellwood, in the true season opener against Mount Union, Tyrone Black lost 6-3, and Tyrone Orange lost 6-4, close but not the result they wanted. In the really early Senior Night against Tussy Mountain, Tyrone Black lost 11-1, and Tyrone Orange lost 8-7; at least one team was close.
Then the switch occurred after the embarrassment in the LHAC when Tyrone finished dead last.
“I always loved a great underdog story, and if we play like we are now, we can go far in the playoffs,” Coach Kate Coltenbaugh said.
To make a comeback, Tyrone had to win on the road, where the teams should not be playing their best, but because of their mindset switch, they got better.
First, Tyrone went to Southern Huntingdon, where Tyrone Black won 10-1, and Tyrone Orange won 6-3.
Tyrone was still not in districts at this point in the season. To qualify, they needed to do what they did against Southern Huntingdon to Huntingdon.
That is exactly what they did with Tyrone Black winning 7-2 and Tyrone Orange winning 8-3.
“I believe that the team will enter the playoffs with great excitement and have the will to win,” Coach Sarah Latchford said.
Heading into districts, Tyrone is playing the best, but they will play the teams that beat them earlier in the season.
First seed Mount Union will face the number four seed Tyrone Black, and the second seed Tussy Mountain will play three-seed Tyrone Orange.
The winner of the one and four match will play the winner of the two and three match for a spot in Regionals, which will be held at Juniata College.
“I’m a little nervous, because we did not win districts last year, but we are playing our best Bocce right now,” sophomore Cadence Dickson said.
Pre-match ceremonies will start at 3:30 pm on Friday, and the matches start at 4:00 pm in the Mount Union Area High School gym.
