Newtown High School special needs athletes and their partners, student peers who assist the athletes in fall, winter, and spring seasons, gain valuable experience and get to have a team to call their own thanks, in large part, to NHS Athletic Director Matt Memoli.

For his efforts, Memoli has been selected to receive the 2025 Paul Mengold Athletic Director of the Year Award, which will be presented at the CIAC Unified Sports Awards Banquet at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on Monday, April 28 at 5:30 pm.

“There is no one more deserving of this award than Matt Memoli. He is a continuous source of support for the Unified coaching staff. He goes above and beyond to make sure all of our Unified participants have equal access to equipment and space as is given to the JV and Varsity teams,” Unified Sports Head Coach Kimya Knecht said. “I come to Matt with ideas and his response is ‘yes, let’s do it. What do you need from me?’ His support for our students with different needs is so evident, and I am so appreciative of all he has done for the Unified program.”

“To do a job like this you never do it for the recognition. You do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Memoli said. “It’s the most special thing we do in the athletic department. It’s giving every single kid a chance to play a CIAC sport.

Coming off a successful winter basketball campaign, the program will turn its attention to outdoor activity, including flag football. Soccer, track, and other sports have been played for the past decade-plus when Kathy Davey started the program. Davey is now the CIAC Unified Sports assistant director.

“It’s been one of the top programs in the state,” Memoli said of NHS Unified Sports, which hosts tournaments with area schools and travels to events as well.

Memoli points out that the partners, or student leaders, and coaches deserve a lot of the credit for this recognition.

“The student leaders and coaches are the glue to this program,” he said.

Making sure all of the participants — both from Newtown and from opposing schools — get involved in games and have a chance to score and contribute is one of the main goals of the program.

“It’s tons of fun,” said student leader Addy Plummer, adding that the program would not be possible without the games, buses, and equipment set up by Memoli.

Unified athlete Isaiah Morris said, “it’s great. I like basketball, I like defense — I like my coaches, my friends, and (Memoli).”

Seeing the partners and athletes socialize not only during practices and games but in the hallways, at lunch, and after school, makes all that goes into this program so worthwhile, Memoli said.

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.