95% of public high schools in Connecticut offer a Unified Sports program; there are 47,909 combined participants in almost 20 states in the nation. On February 14, a Unified Sports winter basketball tournament will be held for all members of the club at Foran High School.
Unified Sports started as a branch off of the Special Olympics that has been around since the 1970s. Milford has been a part of Unified Sports for well over a decade.
The Unified Sports organizers are health teacher Mr. Jeffrey Raucci and math teacher Ms. Taylor Graham.
This club and the events it holds give students who have special needs the chance to participate in athletic events throughout the school year by competing with schools who also take part in these activities.
“I love being a part of it. I have helped out since I started here in 2018. I love seeing the joy in the students when they get together and play all different sports throughout the year,” explains Raucci.
The program also allows student athletes to volunteer and work with them on the sports they play. Athletes from both the boys and girls basketball teams are able to volunteer to help out with this tournament.
“After my coach told me what the Unified Sport tournament was about, I immediately wanted to help. Playing basketball is always fun, so assisting others in playing while being with your teammates was an opportunity I wanted to take,” states sophomore Shea Pangu.
The Milford team is made up of students from Foran and Law as well as the PGTA and FYVE programs at Parsons. As of right now the club has 18 members but new members are constantly joining.
Unified Sports has had multiple practices this year as well as two soccer tournaments at Shelton and Amity High School.
“It’s been really really nice, the kids have had a lot of fun. We have had some practices, with our basketball practices starting very shortly and it’s been really great so far this year,” says Graham.
The tournament consists of teams all over Connecticut, invites were sent to schools such as Amity, Stratford, Bunnell, Guilford, North Haven, Hamden, Shelton, and West Haven.
The club will also be looking forward to track, softball/baseball, and bowling as their spring sports later this year.
