Wickliffe Tournament draws players from all over the U.S., Canada

You might say bocce is in Albert Scerra's blood.

Scerra has been playing the sport for 30 years and is proud to hail from Rome, N.Y. - home of the World Series of Bocce.

"All my relatives play," said Scerra, with his ever-present cigar in hand. "I grew up with it. Every Sunday, we used to have a picnic and play. I had a big family - 10 brothers and sisters. Now I play with my son, who is 27. But tournaments - that's what it's all about."

On Sunday, Scerra was hoping his Toccolana Club team would win the Pat O'Brien Chevrolet Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce and claim the $5,000 first-place prize.

The event was held Friday through Sunday at the Wickliffe Italian-American Club.

Although bocce - also known as lawn bowling - likely originated in ancient Egypt, it was picked up by the Greeks and popularized by the Romans.
"Bocce has been a big part of Italian culture," said Gino Latessa, president of the Wickliffe Italian-American Club.

"I started playing when I was little," said Ron Capogreco of Niles. "I play with my father and my best friend. It's just a hobby that I like."

But Jaci Chesnes of Wickliffe found the diehard players who traveled from as far away as Canada to compete to be a bit intimidating.

Chesnes, Web developer at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, was a little nervous about taking part in the bocce invitational playoff Sunday after checking out the talent.

"I've only played in the back yard, and I'm kind of scared because I don't know the rules, and I don't think anyone on my team knows the rules."
Chesnes' teammate, Tracey Cooper, admitted she wouldn't be much help.

"There's some really good people here," Cooper said. "I guess the 5th ranked player in the world is here. Hopefully he won't be watching us!"

The basic World Bocce League rules are as follows: Each player is given two balls, or boccia. Each player must then take turns rolling the ball toward the pallino, the smallest ball, which has already been thrown onto the field. The players are given points for the balls thrown closest to the pallino ball. Players may also throw on the fly to move the point ball.

Even those who don't play bocce had plenty to occupy themselves during the weekend's event.

Besides the wide variety of food vendors selling everything from homemade cannoli and meatballs to fish and chips, there was live music.

Sunday was family day, which featured children's activities including inflatable bounce areas, a magician and the ever-popular Jungle Terry and his animals.

"I pet the chinchilla and the alligator," said a smiling J.T., the 3-year-old son of Jaci Chesnes and her husband, John. "My favorite animal was the turtle. It was a big one! It had four legs!"

The event, which has grown from 41 teams in 2001 to 84, was expected to attract more than 10,000 people.

The winning team was Rochester of Rochester, N.Y., a group of four men who were undefeated throughout the whole tournament. Second-place teammates from Raincreek No. 3 of Toronto got to split $3,000 in prize money.

"It was probably the best turnout ever in 17 years," Latessa said. "The teams say they love the venue we have and the atmosphere of live bands and singers. Since up to 75 percent of people come from out of state, they're spending at least two nights in hotels. This is good for the city and brings a lot of people into Lake County."

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