The Unified Sports Program at Newtown High School has evolved to include successful teams, such as the cheerleading, basketball, soccer and track teams. There is an opportunity to participate all year long for any preference in any season.
Further, events like the Penguin Plunge, sports tournaments and games, and the national campaign to erase the “R-word,” are not only bringing together regardless of their disabilities, but raising awareness and acceptance.
“I think one of our biggest successes as a team is how well we did with the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign this year,” NHS junior Olivia Hamula said. “We teamed with Best Buddies and had athletes help spread the word, and the amount of pledges we got was unbelievable. I think that that was a huge positive for our team and really brought us together.”
Another big success of the program was the creation of the NHS Spirit Squad, which is in collaboration with NHS varsity cheerleading team. This team makes it possible for students of all abilities to join. Recently the team travelled to New Haven to compete at the CIAC Cheerleading State Championships.
Consisting of four members and the varsity team, the Spirit Squad not only cheers at the basketball games with a full dance and stunt routine, but they have recently been recognized by many local news programs for their talents and hard work. Their routine was filmed and broadcasted while interviewing some team members.
“I would say that the Unified Program, any sport, really shows that the athletes, while they may have a physical or mental disability, they are just like everyone else. They get pure joy out of playing sports and being with their friends. And just like most kids in our high school, when they step onto a court, or field, they are in it to win it,” NHS senior Katie Mossbarger said.
Along with the Spirit Squad, these teams let students participate when they could not be able to otherwise. It gives a chance to inspire everyone to feelas if they can be a part of something. There are track meets during the spring, many basketball games, and cheerleading events in the winter, and soccer games during the fall.
“There is definitely a team aspect to both [the track and basketball teams], however I like how for basketball it is more of a team effort whereas track it is more individual,” Hamula said. “But I do like seeing the improvement of the athletes in their different events for track and field, and how excited they get when they get a faster time or longer throw or jump.”
Unified Sports, in collaboration with the Special Olympics began in 1992, has been growing and spreading to more and more towns, but there are still towns that are unable to offer this program.
Newtown’s Unified Sports Teams have not always been this large and successful, however. This year has already brought rewarding advances to the program, with the new opportunities for athletes and new events to raise awareness. The Spirit Squad recently paired up with “Spread the Word to End the Word” to replace the old “R-word” with a new one: Respect.
“The importance of Unified Sports in high school is to make a connection with kids with disabilities, give them a friend, and make them feel accepted,” NHS senior Jake Lapp said.
Although this program has existed in the past, it has increased in size. “It is absolutely amazing now. We have more partners than we do athletes which is incredible, and it's just getting better and better,” Hamula said. “We've gotten so much support from our school, and it's amazing to see how far it's come as a program.”
Giving all students a chance to do what they love, spreading acceptance and consideration, are just some of the benefits of this amazing club. Hopefully this team continues to grow and expand as it helps change so many lives, if you are in the club or not.
Image Courtesy of specialolympicsga.org