The Newtown High School Unified Sports basketball team is a tight-knit group built on providing opportunities for everyone. Throughout the season the team members played other school squads, practiced their basketball skills, and built friendships.

Newtown’s Unified Sports program is open for anyone to join, and it pairs special needs athletes with their partners who are classmates in order for all to have a fun athletic experience in high school. The Newtown Unified Sports basketball team, which completed its winter season, comprised about 15 athletes and 30 mentors.

During their season, these basketball players had games against schools including Bethel, Brookfield, and Danbury. The team played in six games during the 2021-22 season. During the games, partners led athletes around and helped them get involved; they gave athletes opportunities to score as much as they can.

“My favorite part of unified is that I am able to include so many others in a sport they wouldn’t otherwise play. It is so important to me that I play a role in these students’ lives. It allows me to know that I am making a difference and they are benefiting from that in a way that is fun and interactive,” NHS senior and Unified partner Nora Kliczewski said.

The group practiced twice a week. They honed skills and had fun doing it as each athlete is cheered for and celebrated for what they contribute to the team.

“Unified is a special program because it’s all about the positivity. It doesn’t matter if you’re a partner or an athlete, or even if you’re on the other team, you’ll always be encouraged to do your best by everyone,” NHS senior and Unified partner Mark DeLoughy said.

In addition to positivity, the team emphasizes getting the community involved. They encourage NHS students, teachers at the school, and family members to come to cheer for them at their games.

The group concluded their season with a tournament that they hosted at the Newtown Youth Academy on February 23. They hosted ten teams from six different schools: Bethel, Pomperaug, Watertown, Bunnell, and Stratford.

In addition to basketball, NHS offers Unified soccer and Unified track and field. Many of the athletes do all three sports.

“The friendships, connections, and memories I’ve made in Unified have defined my experience at NHS. Everyone is welcome and we’re all one big family,” NHS senior and Unified partner Carlo Morano said.

Being part of a sports team is proven to be beneficial for students because of all of the life skills it teaches them: teamwork, self-discipline, and leadership. It is an opportunity that is sometimes limited to only certain athletes in traditional sports. With Unified Sports anyone can participate so that all can receive the benefits of participating in athletics. Even as the season comes to an end, the family mentality will continue, and these athletes and their partners will continue to spread positivity in the NHS and the Newtown community.

“Participating in the Unified program has been the most rewarding experience of my teaching career. The students are thoughtful, compassionate, and so appreciative. This program is everything that is right about Newtown High School and I feel so privileged to be part of it,” NHS Unified Basketball Leader Larry Saladin said.

Unified Sports team members are Maleeha Ali, Jessica Andreotta, Luzio Arraiz, Haley Austermann, Amelia Bajcer, Kidist Blessey, Caitlin Briggs, Carter Briggs, Connor Brown, Carlos Brown, Rowan Coffey, Jordan D'Amico, Samuel D'Aprile, Carly Decker, Riley DeLoughy, Mark DeLoughy, Ensar Dervisevic, William Eagleson, Aurora Eller, Ethan Hillefeld, Benjamin Ismail, Paige Jackson, Nora Kliczewski, Connor Kwarcinski, Grace Mackessy, Erin Marshall, James McPadden, Carter Mixon, Nepa Morina, Lauren Murphy, Dinuka Periyapperuma, Lewis Roth, Christine Salvo, Adelyn Skerik, and Elijah Stan.