Shadoan, the golfer, got a taste of how guys like Tiger Woods feel after sinking a tournament-winning putt on the final hole.
But Shadoan, the bocce player, got that big rush on Friday, only better.
Shadoan rolled Boonsboro’s final shot of overtime within inches of the pallino marker and blocked Northern Garrett from scoring to lift the Warriors to a 9-8 sudden-death victory for the Division IV gold medal at the Unified Indoor Bocce State High School Invitational at Hagerstown Community College.
The state championship was great, but the purpose for playing meant even more to Shadoan.
“I was just playing,” Shadoan said. “It’s pretty big and it means a lot, but this is such a good experience.”
Shadoan serves as one of the athletic partners for indoor bocce, a unified sport sponsored by Special Olympics that links special needs athletes with able-bodied teammates in high school varsity competition.
The victory was big for Shadoan, but it was something bigger for his teammates who haven’t had all the opportunities to compete like he has enjoyed.
“It was fun,” said Boonsboro coach Phil Aversa. “The pressure was on and the team rose to the occasion. I saw their heads hanging a little, but I told them to never give up.”
Boonsboro entered the final as the winner’s bracket champion by defeating Northern Garrett and Smithsburg in the first two rounds of the six-team division. Northern Garrett defeated Smithsburg to get a second chance at the Warriors.
The Huskies won the first game of the final match 8-7 to force the final game. Northern Garrett moved out to an 8-3 lead, but Boonsboro scored five points in the final two timed frames — including three to tie the match before time expired.
Logen Wilt set the overtime frame by tossing the pallino and putting his opening shot close. Northern needed three shots to get inside of Wilt’s effort.
After Allison Myers and Kellen Weeks came up short with their shots, Shadoan delivered what became the championship winner.
“We wanted to win because we finished second last year,” Wilt said. “We wanted to win for (special needs teammates) Allison, Kellen and Zach (Getridge). We want them to have fun ... but getting that medal is going to be awesome.”
The Warriors bocce team has become part of the athletic mainstream at the school as administrators and students alike get swept up in following their exploits.
“They have been excited all day long,” said Aversa, a special education math teacher. “Today, they had a pep rally at school and we were texting our progress to them. Our principal, Peggy Pugh, said that the bocce team got the biggest cheers of the rally when the scores were announced.”
It becomes a bigger event since participation in the unified sports programs gives the special needs athletes the opportunity to win varsity letters. And now, they will be recognized at Boonsboro as a state champion.
“That is something they will have forever,” Aversa said. “All these kids would never have a chance to win a state title. Winning isn’t everything, but it is a lot more fun.”
Unified Indoor Bocce State High School Invitational
at Hagerstown Community College
Washington County finishers
Division I
Allegany won Gold Medal
Division II
National Academy Foundation wins Gold Medal
North Hagerstown lost 9-6 to Fort Hill; lost to Patterson, 10-9; defeated Flowers High 12-11 to win seventh place.
South Hagerstown def. Flowers, 9-6; lost to Fort Hill 7-4; def. Brunswick, 13-5 to win fifth place.
Division III
Potomac wins Gold Medal.
Williamsport lost to Middletown, 11-6; def. Mountain Ridge 13-5; lost to Potomac, 13-1; lost to Middletown, 8-7 to finish sixth
Division IV
Boonsboro wins Gold Medal
Boonsboro def. Northern Garrett, 11-5; def. Smithsburg, 11-9; lost to Northern Garrett, 8-7; def. Northern Garrett, 9-8 (OT).
Smithsburg def. F.A.S.T., 8-5; def. Frederick, 12-4; lost to Boonsboro, 11-9; def. Catoctin, 16-6 to win bronze.
