The Bocce Bros bring new life to an old sport

It's a sport that dates back generations and is synonymous with Italian culture. Now, a group of Youngstown natives is taking what some may call an older generations game, and giving it new life.
"We were the young guys. We noticed it was a really good way to compete for ex-college athletes, ex-high school athletes, so we wanted to raise awareness for younger people our age who could have a lot of fun with this," says Carmen Marinucci, a member of The Bocce Bros.
And from there a brand was born.
Carmen, Anthony, Chris, and Dante make up the Bocce Bros and what started as a love for the generations-old sport turned it to a full-fledge covering of local leagues and tournaments.
"Us playing in all these bocce tournaments there's a sense of community and that was what we were trying to bring with The Bocce Brothers in general," says Dante Lovell of The Bocce Bros.
The group has covered tournaments locally at the Pacentro Club, St Anthony's, and the MVR to tournaments as far as Cleveland, Columbus, and Lexington, Kentucky. Even catching the attention of actor Mario Lopez.
"Just like us, Mario Lopez happens to be at bocce advocate. He caught wind of one of our Youngstown bocce sweaters, one of his assistants reach out to us, and the next thing you know he's wearing it and he sent us a personalized video," adds Dante.
The Bocce Bros and Youngstown Bocce went from attending bocce tournaments to hosting them and now, a blog is on the horizon plus even some how-to videos, all to grow the sport of bocce locally and beyond.
"Right now, again it's continuing to build the community and continuing to reach out to not only other bocce bars or bocce clubs out there but to combine our efforts and just making sure this sport is heard and seen," says Chris Lovell with The Bocce Bros.
The Bocce Bros and Youngstown Bocce are putting on their next tournament this Sunday at the MVR.
For more information and information on how to sign up contact 330-318-2587 or 330-718-7853. The deadline to sign up is Friday, October 23rd.