7th Annual Bocce Tournament Raised over $10,000 for the High Fives Foundation
High Fives hosts the longest running bocce tournament in Tahoe to raise money for athletes living with life-altering injuries
Truckee, California’s High Fives Non-Profit Foundation completed their 7th Annual Bocce Tournament presented by Guild Mortgage, GoPro, and Truckee River Winery on Sunday, September 13 at the Truckee River Winery, also in Truckee. The event raised $10,225 towards the mission of the High Fives Foundation — to support the dreams of mountain action sports athletes with injury prevention awareness, while also providing resources and inspiration to those who have suffered life-altering injuries.
This is the longest consecutively running bocce tournament in Lake Tahoe.
“This tournament is the only annual tournament I know of in this area,” says Katy Jones,Director of the Tasting Room at the Truckee River Winery. “There are a lot of bocce leagues, but nothing quite like the High Fives tournament.”
Following the 10 A.M. registration, teams began play on the six crushed oyster courts on the winery premise. Teams were gifted wine glasses and t-shirts, plus lunch from Fireside Pizza and snacks from Farm to Belly. Competitors won prizes from local shops and companies, plus amazing gear from GoPro, Oakley, Volkl, POC, and K2. The silent auction was highly successful, and there were beer specials from Auburn Ale House and wine specials from Truckee River Winery.
This year marked the first repeat champion team — Pablo’s Frame shop. “We played really hard to win last year, and we did it again!” said Pablo. The duo won signature High Fives Shield Wine Display Trophies made Fusion Metal Crafters in Reno, NV. They also won a pair of Squaw Valley Gold Passes for the 2015-16 season.
“Every year this tournament grows in size and gets more competitive,” said Roy Tuscany, High Fives Foundation Executive Director. “At events like these, our athletes can see see the massive outpouring of local support that helps raise money towards their recoveries.”
High Fives Athletes in attendance, were Jeff Andrews, Nick Fairall, Phil Hoban, and Steve Wallace.
“I just moved out here for the month to workout with High Fives, and this community already feels like home,” said Nick Fairall, 26, of Andover, NH. Fairall was injured ski jumping with the US National Team last year.
This year’s winner’s circle:
1st Place: Pablos — Pablo & Siggi
2nd Place: Team #43 — Thom Fralick & Jim Nemeth
3rd Place: Joanie Loves Bocce — Emily Valle & Matt Valle
4th Place: Every Bocce Wang Chung Tonight — Dave Nagengast & Jerry Sheehan
5th Place: Nice and Nice — Tyler Lightcap & Ron Wilkin
BEST DRESSED: B-occes — Lisa Wry & Marie Skinner
