Just like with varsity or other athletics programs, Unified Sports brings students together for a chance to improve skills - on and off the courts and playing fields - and establish relationships.

Newtown High School's Unified Sports program, which includes the Blue Blaze basketball team, offers special needs students a chance to be part of a team and be competitive. It also gives the partners, fellow Newtown High students who help them play the game, a unique and satisfying experience.

"It's really rewarding," partner Kaitlyn McNichols said. "It's different every day. Every person is different. When they succeed, it's really incredible to see their faces."

During and around weekly practices and occasional games and tournaments, the athletes and partners alike socialize.

"This is what it's all about - all the friendships, the connections they make," Unified Sports Coach Kathy Davey said. "This is just so totally a team/family effort. Everybody looks out for one another."

Partners help the athletes on both teams, and since the athletes have varying athletic ability and a variety of special needs, some help their peers and even the opposition in a true show of sportsmanship.

"These are great kids. To be able to see this side of them, playing athletics, playing with kids is just wonderful," said Margaret O'Callaghan, a coach with the program. "How much growth they get across the board is amazing."

There has been tremendous growth to the program itself as well, with dozens of participants. Newtown's squad has so many, in fact, that groups are substituted on and off the court with great regularity so that everybody gets a chance to play.

"I think the fact the numbers are continuously growing speaks for itself," Ms Davey said.

The partners are given no specific information about the various disabilities the athletes have.

"They're learning on the fly. They're learning how to communicate, how to be a good friend," Ms Davey said.

"I try to keep practice as fun as possible," said Megan Goyda, student leader for the program, "and make sure everybody has a smile."

"And a bottle of water," partner Kai-li Davey added.

Ms Goyda calls the program "an indescribable amount of fun to be honest - there are no words."

This is a win-win arrangement since both the athletes and partners benefit so greatly from the interaction they have with each other.

"It's not just helping them. They're doing a lot for us too. The whole atmosphere is really uplifting," said partner Silas Decker, who has worked with the athletes for three years.

"Unified Sports has really impacted my life. I want to thank my coaches for inspiring me," athlete Jordan Cicchesi said. "[Unified Sports] brings together the community and there's more love and the competition - I love how kids come together with different intellectual disabilities, come together to have a chance to play."

Other head coaches are Russ Davey and Gregg Simon. Assistants - "We couldn't do this program if they were not part of it," Davey acknowledges - are Kirsten Tuz, Tegan Famigletti, Sallie Barlow, Maureen Smith, Judy Watts, Jane McGrath, and MaryAnn O'Donnell.

"I was so psyched when Gregg agreed to join the Unified program this basketball season. All the players were excited too; the kids just love him. Gregg brings such as positive energy to the program," Kathy Davey said of Mr Simon, who retired as Newtown High's athletic director last year.

In addition to Ms Goyda, Mr Decker, Ms McNichols, and Kai-li Davey, other key student leaders in the program are Ashlyn DeLoughy, Garrett Fitzpatrick, Brianna Linden, Robbie Morrill, and Sophia Spraggins.

"These students really set the tone for the team. They do the behind-the-scenes work and don't want or ask for recognition," Kathy Davey said. "They truly exemplify what is right with today's youth. They want to make a positive difference at Newtown High School that includes everyone."

The rest of the Blue Blaze athletes and partners include: Nolan Adis, Jessica Andreotta, Brian Bailey, Josh Bailey, Alexandra Chatzikonstantinou, Steven Cheh, Kieran Coffey, Thomas Daigle, Rebecca DiDomizio, Miles Dievart, Meghan Doyle, Logan Flynn, JP Ford, Cathryn Gregory, Patrick Grover, Olivia Hamula, Andrew Hsieh, Kaity Kastanek, Sara Kennedy, Jaclyn Magoon, Kaitlyn McNichols, Taylor McPadden, Danielle Mola, Eric Moore, Jonathan Nowacki, Hailey Pankow, Will Pelisson, Jillian Pieretti, Timmy Rogers, Madeline Rose, Nicholas Rose, Isabel Shaw, Brian Smith, Julie Smith, Ben Suckow, Rachel Tomasino, Jessica Viesto, Matthew Vigneau, and Lauren Zimmerman.