WOODBURY- When most people think about sports, they often are drawn to ideas like competition, scores, and winning or losing. But for those familiar with Unified Sports, a branch of Special Olympics, there’s something far more formative than merely wins and losses: a sense of giving back and camaraderie.
This season marks NHS Unified’s 15th year, and as the years have passed, the program has continued to grow.
“It’s really been a satisfying journey,” said John Dominello, Unified coach and culinary instructor at Nonnewaug. “I jumped in with Mrs. Platt many years ago and learned a lot from her, and each year the program grew with things like Unified Buddies and volleyball instead of track. Having Buddies as a club in the fall really helps the unified sports season grow, All students involved understand what to do. What I really love is when other schools come to ours and just see our players’ empathy and kindness to everyone.”
Throughout the program’s growth have been remarkable achievements. Two seasons ago the program was honored as a National Champion School, the second such accolade for NHS Unified.
What keeps the program growing and the students coming?
For current NHS members like junior Rocco Varone he does it because of his family.
“I have family members who are special needs,” Varone said, “so it’s always been very important for me to help others with special needs.”
For newer members like Will Vinciguerra, a junior at Nonnewaug, he joined for the sense of community Unified-Special Olympics provides.
“I joined Unified because it’s a good opportunity to be a part of a community in Nonnewaug and meet new people.”
This year’s team will once again navigate a schedule that includes local rivalries against schools like Watertown, Oxford, and Shepaug. The season will cap off with the program’s third annual Alumni Game where Unified graduates return to campus to rekindle memories.
“I really enjoy everything we do in Unified but the Alumni Game is very special; we have an opportunity to reconnect with graduates we had in our program and talk to them about how everything is and their successes in life,” says Dominello. “It’s nice to see teachers come down to see the graduates and see how happy they are to see them. How they (alumni) interact with our current team is also very special and it’s nice to see them get to know each other.”
While the Alumni Game draws fans, faculty, and staff, the annual Unified vs Faculty game is yet another highlight in an exciting season ahead.
“I’ve always thought it was cool to see a part of the unified community that we otherwise would have meant, it’s also unique because I can’t think of too many if any other sports where alumni
come back and participate,” said junior Maddie Roberts who has been part of the team for three years. “It’s really special and you can see how much the current and alumni players enjoy it.”
With Unified Basketball season in full swing, the importance of Special Olympics is something that’s clarified for NHS student-athletes who give their time to support their fellow classmates.
“Unified is important because sometimes we don’t realize how lucky we are,” says junior and long-time team member James Gwiazdoski. “Giving a little bit of your time to help others goes a long way.”
