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OGDEN — A unique basketball competition on Saturday brought together high school students of all abilities who cheered not just for their team, but for their opponents as well.
Students with mental and physical disabilities were visibly excited to be playing with their friends and were smiling wide as they ran through two rows of cheerleaders and mascots and watched other teams play basketball.
Weber State University on Saturday hosted the largest Special Olympics Utah Unified Sports basketball tournament that has ever been held in Utah. It involved 384 students from 25 different high schools participating in teams, including special education students and their partners.
Hailey Bassett, a partner on Mountain Crest's basketball team, enjoys seeing everyone cheer for each other in Unified Sports, and the unity that it brings.
"It's so fun — when anyone scores a basket, everyone cheers," Bassett said in a panel discussion about the event.
She said that the school participating in Unified sports has helped people in its life skills class be more involved in the school; this year the student government came and asked people on the team to participate in a yearly school talent show.
First Lady Abby Cox spoke at the event associated with her "Show Up" initiative, which is working to grow Special Olympics events throughout the state. Cox said the initiative is centered around making connections.
Cox listed four things that she thinks everyone needs: identity, purpose, a sense of community, and love.
"Every human is getting those four things when they participate in Unified Sports," Cox said.
Seriously…❤️ pic.twitter.com/9uMI9Pq8v7
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) March 27, 2022
Cox said that the program creates an environment at schools where everyone can feel included and become a champion. She said it is not only benefiting the kids on the teams, but all of their peers as well, as they are learning what including everyone looks like and creating life-long friendships.
"They will have friendships, not only when they play basketball together, but they have friendships, friendships in the hallway. They have friendships in the classroom. ... They have friendships everywhere they go, and they are making connections," she said.
Cox is hoping to expand the program through the state, and said they have surpassed her goal for the year because of educational foundations and private donors who have helped build the program. She is still hoping to involve 50 rural schools in the program.
"Collectively, we will make sure that every child in the state of Utah feels a sense of love and belonging and connection. That's what our world needs. It's what our state needs right now," Cox said.
Scott Weaver, Special Olympics Utah president and CEO, said that prior to the "Show Up" initiative, they had 20 high schools and five elementary schools in the program. Since Cox began the initiative, they've doubled that and added two middle schools.
Before the end of the school year, 105 additional elementary schools and four additional middle schools will participate in the program. This means that the organization will reach over 1,500 students with intellectual disabilities. However, Weaver said that there is still a lot of growth that can happen.
"I'm asking you to join us in being a game-changer, making a difference in the lives of students throughout Utah and helping us introduce the strategy of Unified champion schools to everyone and anyone who's interested in playing," Weaver said.
Weaver said that he was a Unified partner 30 years ago, and his two closest friends today were two of his partners.
Parade of athletes going on now for the first ever Unified Sports High School state championships today @WeberStateU. Thanks to @AbbyPalmerCox and @utahjazz for the partnership! pic.twitter.com/gFw28SeRGl
— Brad L. Mortensen (@BradLMortensen) March 26, 2022
Carla Bedingfield, a coach in the program, said that she likes watching the students build a team and friendships. She said that through the program she realized that she has more in common with the people on the team than differences.
"They have taught me more about myself than what I can teach them," Bedingfield said.
She said she had a parent of one of her students who said her daughter has played on multiple teams at her high school, but that the Unified Sports team is the first one where she has really felt like she has a purpose, and she is more excited to talk about her games than she was before.
Jacey Freeman, from Westlake, said that a girl on her Unified Sports team, Radaslava Papadopoulos — Radi to her friends — has joined her group of friends, and went to a school dance with them.
Freeman said she has benefited from being involved in the program. A teacher asked her to be a part of the team and she said it was a no-brainer, she just joined.
"It's changed everything in my life, like what I want to do after high school, that has completely changed because of being involved with Unified Sports and being able to see things that I can do and things that the community can do to change just little things," Freeman said.
She said her school as a whole has changed dramatically over the last few months since it started a Unified Sports team.
