Bocce Tournaments
Congratulations to the undefeated champions of the 2016 Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce – Adelios!
The team consisted of Tony Melaragno, Mike Iannetta, Adelio DiFranco, Richie DiFranco and Sergio DiFranco! (pictured from left to right)
Great job fellas!!
Thank you to the Wickliffe Italian American Club for putting on another spectacular bocce weekend!
www.wickliffeianda.com
Here is a recap of the tournament:
2016 CLEVELAND CHALLENGE CUP OF BOCCE – RECAP
Wickliffe, Ohio….“There’s somethin’ happening here; what it is, ain’t exactly clear….” These lyrics from the old Buffalo Springfield song sum up this year’s Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce where the winds of change continue to blow. Powerhouse teams from traditional bocce strongholds such as Toronto, Rome, NY., and East Haven, Connecticut along with regional teams from Youngstown/Warren/Niles all gathered to compete again this year in Wickliffe. Even teams from as far as Maryland and Mississippi found their way here, as this tournament continues to gain prestige within the bocce world.
The story the last two years was the emergence of a young team from Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood (all under 27) that stormed through the tournament undefeated both years. Would they be able to repeat for a 3rd consecutive year and rival the old Rainbow Creek/Toronto teams that actually accomplished that feat twice (1987-1989; 1998-2000)? Well the answer was a resounding NO! The competition was fierce, and if you didn’t bring your “A” game every time out, you weren’t around long. However, another relatively young local team, Adelio’s Contracting, emerged this year and steadily worked their way through the winner’s bracket to position themselves as a solid contender, while many of the traditional powerhouse teams – including last year’s runner-up and 2013 champions, Palazzo 777 along with mighty Rainbow Creek, and East Haven, CT all lost a game and had to fight through the loser’s bracket.
In only their 2nd tournament together, Adelio’s defeated Rainbow Creek in the championship game by a score of 16-11 to capture the 2016 Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce. Facing an experienced Rainbow Creek team, Adelio’s came out strong and jumped out to an 8-0 lead with Anthony Melaragno leading the way, hitting point balls away and sticking his ball for point. Rainbow Creek crawled back into the game at 12-6, but Adelio’s came back with 3 points as Rainbow Creek’s hit attempts missed the mark. However the Toronto veterans weren’t done yet, and came right back with 3 points of their own after a rare miss by Melaragno and continued to inch back into the game at 15-11. Adelio’s was finally able to put the game away in Frame 15 with a point shot to the back wall by Sergio DiFranco, grabbing the Challenge Cup trophy by a score of 16-11.
Captain Sergio DiFranco, Richie DiFranco, Mike Ianetta, and Anthony Melaragno, Jr. are all between the ages of 35-40, and several of their fathers (Bruno Ianetta, Tony Melagrano) are local bocce legends – former Challenge Cup winners with the Vandra Brothers teams (1990, 2002, 2010, 2012). Sergio DiFranco’s father – Adelio DiFranco was the 5th man on the team as well as coach and mentor for the younger players, and he is also a well-known bocce player in the area. It looks like the torch is being passed from one generation to the next! But it will be harder and harder to repeat as the level of play of many young local teams – including teams with Wickliffe I&A Members – is rapidly improving.
Congratulations to Wickliffe I&A Members who finished in the Top 16 this year, including: Bryan, Mike, and Pete Vitantonio, Frank Gambatese (Wickliffe I&A #1) who tied for 5th place with Frank DiCillo, Russ Meraglio (Fioritto Funeral Home); Chris Federico (Rompe Le Palle) who tied for 7th place, and Eugene Ciasullo (TC Construction) who tied for 9th place.
By Larry Koval with contributions from John Vourlis