At the end of the day it's about participation, socialization, and displaying sportsmanship with teammates and competitors alike for members of Newtown High School's Unified Sports basketball team, the Blue Blaze.Amazing Day

Although these positive traits are all - or at least should be - a part of any sport, at any level, they are paramount in Unified Sports, which provides students with special needs, along with student volunteer helpers called partners, opportunities to play competitive, yet fun, games.

The Blaze participated in the Bunnell High School Unified Sports Basketball Tournament which took place on March 10, joining host Bunnell, Masuk of Monroe, Foran and Law of Milford, West Haven, Bethel, Joel Barlow of Redding, Brookfield, and Bassick of Bridgeport.

Teams played in a round-robin-style tourney and each squad got about an hour of exercise as they competed against different lineups every 15-or-so minutes. The special needs athletes worked not only with each other, but alongside partners. The event culminated with an awards ceremony and the athletes went home with medals for their efforts.

"It's not about basketball. It's about playing and coming together as a team," said Newtown Unified Sports Coach Kathy Davey, recognizing that the athletes and partners, alike, get so much out of their involvement in the program. "I think all of these kids see the bigger picture."

"I just get such a kick out of seeing the kids celebrate and taking pride in what they do," said Russ Davey, Kathy's husband, who helps out with coaching and organizing the players.

Russ Davey has coached high school athletes for more than four decades, and enjoys the change of pace in working with Unified Sports participants.

"This is just such a refreshing change," he said. "It's a lot of fun."

"Everything is success oriented," said Gerry Mucci, a coach of the Bunnell team, who started Unified Sports as a weightlifting program, along with special education teacher Diane DeStefano, back in 1991. "We don't even care about the score. We help the other team score, and they help us score."

"This is an amazing day. This is just a day that brings me so much joy to see the passion and sportsmanship from the kids and see just how appreciative they are," Bunnell Athletic Director Meredith Pacelli said.

Former Bunnell Athletic Director (now South-West Conference Commissioner) Dave Johnson was on hand to help run the event, which Bunnell has hosted for a dozen years.

"In my 34 years as educator and athletic director here, this was always, and continues to be, my favorite day of the year," Johnson said.

As is the case in any level of sports, the athletes have varying levels of skill. There were high-fives exchanged between teammates and opponents alike after baskets were scored.

Newtown student Megan Goyda has served as a partner for two years.

"It is the best part of your day," said Goyda, noting that no matter how poorly a given day may be going, involvement with the Unified athletes "puts a smile right on your face."

During the Bunnell tourney, Goyda served as a "subber," making sure to divide playing time as evenly as possible; Newtown's program is so big that - with more than 50 participants - it fielded three teams in the tourney.

"They love playing, so making sure they get as much time as possible is really important," Goyda said.

"I like seeing them have the opportunity to play," added Kira Flynn, another Blue Blaze partner.

Allison Morrill, also an NHS partner, has been involved with Unified Sports for two years, and started the fall soccer program.

"I thought we needed to have a sport available for every season," said Morrill, adding that what she likes best about Unified Sports is "the sense of community that it builds in our team, and then spreads throughout the school is just infectious," Morrill said.

Davey, who is also heavily involved with the soccer squad as well as spring track, notes that the program is made possible with the help of Newtown High School Athletic Director Gregg Simon, Margaret O'Callaghan, and the many students who help out with the Blaze.

Newtown Blue Blaze athletes and partners are: Amanda Albanesi, Max Ames, Brittney Antous, Josh Bailey, Alexandra Chatzikonstantioic, Jordan Cicchesi, Rachel Crosby, Kai-li Davey, Silas Decker, Ashlyn DeLoughy, Rebecca Didomizio, Meghan Doyle, Emma Farrington, Garrett Fitzpatrick, Kira Flynn, Dan Fore, Grace Frost, Megan Goyda, Olivia Hamula, Lindsay Hoyt, Andrew Hsieh, Mia Katsuleres, Tori Keayes, Megan Kelleher, Sara Kennedy, Matt Knapp, Taylor Koonz, Jake Lapp, Grace Larson, Brianna Linden, Jaclyn Magoon, Emma Maki, Max McCleary, Kaitlyn McNichols, Danielle Mola, Allison Morrill, Claudia Morris, Katie Mossbarger, Johnny Nowacki, Jillian Pieretti, Riley Rising, Timothy Rogers, Roselyn Rosado, Madeline Rose, Nicholas Rose, Isabel Shaw, Brian Smith, Sophia Spraggins, Samantha Strocchia, Ben Suckow, and Rachel Tomasino.