Unified Sports partnered with the varsity basketball team in hosting a community game with the Western Wings on Feb. 1. Unified is a Special Olympics program that gives athletes with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to participate in various sports with varsity athletes. The Western Wings are a partner delegation to the Special Olympics league, and host sports such as basketball, swimming, softball, and bowling for about 150 athletes in the western suburbs of Minneapolis.
Graham Everett ‘26 is a leader of the Unified Club in the Upper School and has worked extensively on the planning of such events. “We had to reach out to Coach [Tyler] Biwan to see what times would work for the basketball team…we then reserved the gym and sent sign-up forms to the Western Wings and the students,” Everett said. The event started with a pizza lunch. The lunch
contained fresh cheese pizza alongside a wide assortment of organic fruit, vegetables and beverages to fuel up before the game. Volunteers and athletes from both teams mixed and introduced themselves during the meal, providing an opportunity to bond and get to know each other.
“I think this game is definitely a great opportunity, especially for basketball players to get exposure to Special Olympics…I think the best part about it is that people can come together over basketball…it’s a great opportunity to show people that it’s not hard to build those connections,” Everett said. The game aims to foster community and team building amongst all participants. The varsity basketball players were split up to join the rosters of the Western Wings for the game.
Andrew Mao ‘26 volunteered at the game, which was one of his recent experiences working with Unified. Mao was tasked with the role of the “Electronic Score Tally Adjustment Operator.” He had to make appropriate adjustments to the electronic scoring system by accurately inputting increases to the score value depending on the events of the game alongside maintaining control of the timepiece to ensure that game time was not lost when the ball was out of bounds. “Everyone was being so supportive at the game…the enthusiasm and the energy was great,” Mao said. He plans to continue contributing to Unified through volunteering. “You get to meet new people and branch out of your comfort zone… it’s also really beneficial to teach others,” Mao stated. Mao hopes that other students can look to join volunteering for Unified. “It’s pretty low commitment, like only one hour a week,” Mao exclaimed.
Beyond basketball, the Unified club organized a Polar Plunge, with all proceeds going towards Special Olympics programs. The Polar Plunge is an event where the organizers choose a lake during freezing temperatures and cut a large hole into the ice. The ice is removed, revealing the ice cold water underneath. Participants pay an entrance fee to enter the event. They can choose to jump with or without their subzero, cold resistant clothing articles. The participants will jump off the ledge into the inhospitable, bitterly cold, piercing and numbing water. It provides the participants a feverish adrenaline rush.
Alongside the Polar Plunge, they are collaborating with the Songs for Smiles charity to host a talent show for the Special Olympics athletes. Unified also branches to other sports, such as Alpine Skiing. Cole Eckes ‘26, a varsity skier, spends time with Unified as a coach for Special Olympics Ski. “There’s a lot of different levels of skill. For a lot of them though, we’re teaching them to get faster, techniques and such.” Eckes states. Unified operates the ski events at Hyland Hills, a ski park in Bloomington. “It’s like regular skiing, but we might set it a little easier for them…it’s not like they’re super competitive, it’s fun,” Eckes concluded.
