GIRARD — The Iola High School unified bocce ball team took home two first place finishes in a meet at Girard Wednesday.
The Mustangs were split into three teams of athletes, which were divided by age and skill level. Every team played two games, competing among over 300 athletes and buddies. Winners were the first team to reach 12 points or the team leading after 20 minutes.
Iola’s blue team, represented by Shaun McLaughlin, Weston Helmna, Guilis Pina and Kaycee Berry, won first place. The Iola white team also took home first place. That team included Kyndal Bycroft, Vernon Klinzman, Reese Curry and Keegon Garner.
The Mustangs gold team took third place. Marlee Westhoff, Xavier Burrow and Steph Fees rounded out the team.
“Everyone had a great time today and represented Iola well,” Iola head coach Ann Bates said. “It always makes me so happy and proud to see our school community embrace and promote inclusion.”
Iola High School’s unified team represented the state of Kansas last year, when they were named a 2022 National Unified Champion School program.
