By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Thanks to Lake Orion bocce player Jose Botto, the United States can now boast its first medal from a World Bocce Championship tournament.
Botto competed in the World Singles Bocce Championship April 25 against 32 other countries in Rome, Italy, after winning the title of the United States Champion in the men’s division for 2015 against 25 other players. ??
Representing Orion Township’s Palazzo di Bocce, Botto defeated players from’Germany, Peru, France, Poland, Lithuania, Brazil and San Marino.
For the first time Botto had ever made it to the final bracket at the World Championship, he took home the silver medal, the United States? first medal in history.
‘It was a great experience. I’ve never been in the final four,? Botto said. ‘He won, he played better than me.? We’ll make it next time.?
Returning champion Davide Bianchi of Switzerland wore the gold medal, beating Botto 15-3. Bianchi last won the World Singles Bocce Championship nine years ago.
The Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale, or the International Bocce Federation, hosted the World Singles competition, testing champions from three divisions: Mens? Singles, Womens? Singles, and the Under 21 division.
Representing the U.S., Navina Bernardi of California won fourth place at Worlds in the women’s division, and Drew Page, also of California, placed eighth in the World’s Under 21 division.
For Botto who originally is from Argentina, playing for Anthony Battaglia, President and CEO of Palazzo di Bocce, provided the opportunity to compete at the World Championships.
Battaglia has been Botto’s coach since 2006 after the 35-year-old Argentian moved to the U.S.
‘I grew up in the bocce court,? Botto said. ‘My dream was to play in the World Bocce Championship, but Argentian bocce is different, so if I wanted to compete in the worlds I had to relocate to the U.S.,? he said.
Botto first knew Battaglia as his competitor, facing him in several club tournaments around the U.S.
Battaglia, the 2004 U.S. Champion and board member of the U.S. Bocce Federation, invited Botto to play for his club at Palazzo di Bocce after the move. Under his tutelage, Palazzo di Bocce club team has won the U.S. Championship title the last eight out of ten years.
His trick? Before the championship tournaments Battaglia required that Botto point 128 balls a night and shoot between 60 and 70 before leaving the club courts at 4291 S. Lapeer Rd.
The game of bocce, which has been around as early as 5200 B.C., involves a pallino, the ball thrown to a specific zone at the far end of the 90 foot court, and a set of bocce balls. Each player or team takes turns bowling or pointing their bocce balls closest to the pallino, or shooting or volleying their opponents? balls from the pallino.
In preparation for the Worlds, Botto has put in over hundreds of hours of practice with his fellow U.S. Team mate Jason Wisniewski, 32, who also plays for the Palazzo di Bocce’s club team.
Wisniewski placed third in the 2015 U.S. Singles Championships.
‘So we have the two best players in the country right here on these courts,? Battaglia said of the Palazzo.
Battaglia opened the Palazzo di Bocce in 2004, and hosts multiple bocce leagues throughout the week.
For more information on the Palazzo or to join in the game of bocce, call?248-371-9987 ext. 0, or visit’www.palazzodibocce.com.