Wickliffe Italian-American Club

08/30/2026

Fun on Friday night at the Tournament!!!

Paul DiCicco’s photos from the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce in Wickliffe on Aug. 28, 2026.

08/30/2026

Gotta love it!

The argument lasted longer than the game, and that was the point. 🎯

Behind the club there was a lane of packed clay with a bare bulb strung over it, and four men could spend an entire evening on a distance of about three inches. Somebody would crouch down and sight along the ground. Somebody else would go get a piece of string. A third would declare the whole frame invalid and start again.

It ran in two languages and switched to dialect the second it got serious, which is how everybody knew that honor was now involved. Then it was over, and they all sat back down on the folding chairs like nothing had happened.

They were not really playing bocce. They were doing the one thing they had time for, which was being in each other's company, four nights a week, for forty years. 🌙

Was there a court behind the club in your neighborhood, and who was the man nobody could beat?

08/28/2026

THE CHAMPS ARE BACK! 🏆🏠

CPF Home Inspections (Chesterland, OH) heads into the 42nd Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce sponsored by Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co. as the defending Open Division Champions! 🏆

Their title defense officially begins Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 PM when they take on Zeolla Construction.

CPF captured its second Cleveland Challenge Cup title in three years in 2025. Now, one year later, the champs return with an opportunity to do it again.

A third championship would put CPF in rare company, further cementing their name among the most accomplished teams in Cleveland Challenge Cup history.

The title is theirs to defend👑. Can CPF make it 3 out of 4? 🏆🏆🏆

📅 Aug 28th–29th–30th
📍 Wickliffe Italian-American Club
🎶 Food • Music • Culture • Bocce Battles

👉 Don’t miss the action! Follow WIAC socials for live updates all weekend.

08/28/2026

LAST CHANCE - to see Game Times before we go live on Scoreholio

Follow the bracket in Scoreholio but please be READY at your scheduled Game time as games could go quickly or longer than estimated. Also No Back-2-Back Courts so the bracket may jump game numbers!!!

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK IN BEFORE YOUR FIRST GAME!!!

Good luck to everyone and let's have a great weekend!

The 42nd Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce sponsored by Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co. 🎉

The Official Brackets for both Open & Ladies Divisions are available on Scoreholio! 📲 (Scan QR code)

104 Open & 16 Women's Teams
Get ready to compete for the Cup of Bocce from August 28th–30th at the Wickliffe Italian American Club!

📅 For all event details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

08/28/2026

🚗🅿️ EXTRA PARKING AVAILABLE — CLEVELAND CHALLENGE CUP OF BOCCE! 🇮🇹

Heading out to the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce this weekend? We’ve got additional parking available to help accommodate everyone attending!

📍 Extra parking is located on the EAST SIDE of Worden Road in the designated lot shown on the map.

🚌 FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE will be running Friday & Saturday, taking guests back and forth between the extra parking lot and the Wickliffe Italian-American Club grounds.

Please follow the map.

We’re looking forward to a great weekend of bocce, food, music, and Italian-American tradition! 🇮🇹🤌

Please SHARE this post to help spread the word!

🏆 Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce
📍 Wickliffe Italian-American Club

08/27/2026

https://fox8.com/on-air/new-day-cleveland/bocce-weekend/

Wickliffe Italian-American Club The 42nd Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce takes place this weekend.

08/25/2026

CCCoB42 Practice News
Thursday August 27th: 6PM - 10PM.
All 9 courts will be available.

Friday August 28th: 11am-2pm
ONLY on the first 6 courts.

30 min Sessions. First Come, First Serve. A sign up sheet will be available at our Bocce Garage on the north side of the courts (opposite side when you walk in).

YOU MUST COMPLETE YOUR PRACTICE SESSION BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR ANOTHER.

Email or text if you have any questions or final roster changes. Thank you.
Email: [email protected]
Text: 440-373-7942

08/24/2026

The 42nd Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce sponsored by Formica Plumbing & Sewer Co. 🎉

The Official Brackets & Game Times for both Open & Ladies Divisions are available on Scoreholio! 📲 (Scan QR code)

104 Open & 16 Women's Teams
Get ready to compete for the Cup of Bocce from August 28th–30th at the Wickliffe Italian American Club!

🔁 Need to make updates?
If you have team name changes, roster edits, or spelling corrections, please text:📱 440-373-7942

💰 Payouts & full Game Times will be announced at a later time.

📅 For all event details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

08/24/2026

A bit of history regarding the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce, courtesy of the Wickliffe Willoughby Historical Society! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19UvQE3FGd/

CLEVELAND CHALLENGE CUP OF BOCCE
The Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce was originated in 1984 by the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame. The NIASHF developed the tournament as a means to promote Italian heritage.

Pat Bristo, a member of the Wickliffe Italian-American Club, was instrumental in having the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce tournament awarded to the club. In 1989, the Wickliffe I&A Club began hosting the Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce, strengthening the rich tradition of the game.

This year, the 38th Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce is host to 100+ teams with players from all over the U.S. and Canada. This three-day weekend in Wickliffe has grown to include live entertainment, food, and family activities.

Shown in this 1984 photo are Pat Bristo, Joe Chilemi, ?, Tony Nasca, and Lou DiMattia.