4th season gets underway for North Hills Unified Bocce

North Hills School District kicked off the 2025-26 Unified Bocce season earlier this week with an opening match on the road at Fox Chapel. The contest marked the start of the fourth year North Hills has fielded a Special Olympics Unified Bocce team, continuing the district’s commitment to inclusive athletics.

North Hills’ Unified Bocce program is part of Special Olympics Pennsylvania's Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS) program, supported by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), the Bureau of Special Education, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. North Hills is proud to be one of 500 Unified Champion Schools across the state.

The Unified Bocce program brings together students with and without disabilities to compete alongside one another, promoting inclusion, acceptance, and mutual respect through meaningful athletic competition. This year’s program once again features two teams, each made up of eight players and two alternates. Student-athletes in grades 9 through 12 participate on the teams.

In Wednesday’s season opener, the North Hills teams battled the Fox Chapel Foxes to a tie, setting a strong tone for the season ahead.

The remaining 2025026 Unified Bocce schedule is as follows:

• Jan. 8, 2026 at Shaler Area, 3 p.m.
• Jan. 13, 2026 vs. North Allegheny, 3 p.m.
• Jan. 20, 2026 vs. Hampton, 3 p.m.
• Feb. 3, 2026 vs. Pine-Richland, 3 p.m. (Senior Recognition)
• Feb. 5, 2026 at Avonworth, 3:30 p.m.

The team is coached by North Hills teachers Lisa Towers and Jamie Patterson, whose leadership continues to guide the program’s growth and success.

Community members are encouraged to follow the team throughout the season on Instagram at @nh_bocce25. For a preview of the season, readers can also check out North Hills junior Carter Plowey’s Hilltop Headlines article spotlighting the program.

Best of luck to the North Hills Unified Bocce teams as they continue their season.