web1_NanticokeGBB_3.jpg

Our Opinion: Nanticoke-area group recaptures its schools’ glory days

web1_TTL010516birchwood.jpg

Birchwood donates to Rose Tucker Senior Center in Nanticoke

<p>Tony Russo and Gino Gratalo have been friends much longer than they&#8217;ve played bocce ball together. The duo took their talents to the Special Olympics recently.</p><p>At the annual Pennsylvania Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova University in late November, Russo and Gratalo&#8217;s bocce prowess came to the forefront. Both graduates of Pittston Area, they took home gold in the Division 4 Bocce Ball event. The two are involved with the sport through Special Olympics Luzerne County.</p><p>&#8220;It was great, man,&#8221; said Gratalo, 41, of Avoca. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been down there lots of times. It&#8217;s been great, especially going with Tony. Hopefully, we can do it again.&#8221;</p><p>The duo defeated Lancaster County in the championship to claim gold. They were down a few games in the final; however, they remained calm and pressed forward.</p><p>&#8220;The first game, we blew them out,&#8221; Russo said. &#8220;We had to come back and win.&#8221;</p><p>Gratalo said he told Russo they have to be patient and the win will come to them.</p><p>&#8220;We had to stay patient,&#8221; Gratalo said. &#8220;Some people there bounce the ball and throw it too hard. We both have a style and just get it rolling soft.&#8221;</p><p>During the three-day event, students from Villanova and Temple universities volunteer for the athletes. The Olympians were treated to opening ceremonies and a few dances to meet new people. Both Russo and Gratalo enjoyed making new friends.</p><p>&#8220;I loved it,&#8221; said Russo, 33, of Pittston. &#8220;It was fun. They had a dance for us and the students were great helping out.&#8221;</p><p>For the past five years, Russo has been an assistant coach for the Pittston Junior Patriots. His family is no stranger to bocce ball as his dad plays in the Yatesville Bocce League. That&#8217;s how Russo got hooked.</p><p>This was Russo&#8217;s fifth Special Olympics medal and his third gold medal.</p><p>Gratalo is well-known around the Greater Pittston area for his prowess in Special Olympics. He plays for the Victory Sports League once baseball season rolls around and routinely hits home runs at the West Pittston Little League field.</p><p>For the past 12 years, Gratalo has worked at Redner&#8217;s Warehouse Markets on the bypass in Pittston Township. In 2014, he was the first Special Olympian from Luzerne Country to attend the Special Olympics National Games in Princeton, New Jersey in nearly a decade.</p><p>Also playing bocce, Gratalo won the National Championship in New Jersey. In all, he has won 31 Special Olympic medals with the majority of them being gold.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s the best player I&#8217;ve ever seen,&#8221; Russo said of Gratalo.</p><p>The duo is coached by Art Jump. Together, they hope to continue to win gold medals.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_SpecialOlympics.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tony Russo, left, and Gino Gratalo won a gold medal at the annual Pennsylvania Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova University in November. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_SpecialOlympics.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tony Russo, left, and Gino Gratalo won a gold medal at the annual Pennsylvania Special Olympics Fall Festival at Villanova University in November. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Nick Wagner</p><p>nwagner@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Nick Wagner at 570-991-6406 or on Twitter @Dispatch_Nick</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Greater Pittston duo Tony Russo and Gino Gratalo earn gold medal in bocce at Special Olympics games