According to specialolympics.org, a unified sport promotes social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Unified sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

HS Athletic Director Ben Drake said he and the entire school district fully embrace the bocce ball team and other unified sports teams the school currently offers.

“Unified sports has been very well received at JHS, and we are continuing to look for ways to expand the program. Last year, I heard of several schools in the CCAA (Chautauqua Cattaraugus Athletic Association) who added unified bocce last year or were considering adding it this year. So far, it has been another very positive addition to our program,” he said.

Drake added how he views the future of unified sports within the district and about the potential to expand the program.

Jamestown High School’s Red and Green players congratulate Pine Valley Panthers bocce ball players after a match in Lakewood. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

“Brenda Degnan is the head coach and Macey Lundmark is the assistant coach. We were fortunate to add Brenda as a unified coach as she has a lot of experience with the Special Olympics, and particularly, bocce. We will continue to evaluate the unified program and consider adding more sports in the future. Unified sports has provided valuable opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in athletics. In addition, it has also provided a wonderful platform for our students without disabilities to work alongside them and assist them to participate successfully. It has been a very rewarding experience for our athletes, partners, coaches and spectators. This school year, we plan to again field a unified bowling team, and a unified basketball team,” Drake said.

The JHS team traveled Thursday to Buffalo for the unified bocce ball team championships.

“The kids put in a lot of hard work to get ready for the season,” Degnan said. “I’m proud of them. The unified games allow the athletes to compete, but they also get to meet students from other school districts and make new friends.”