MANSFIELD — Superintendent of Schools Teresa Murphy, Athletic Director Timothy Selmon and Principal Russ Booth are pleased to report the successful season of the Unified Basketball program at Mansfield High School.
The MHS Unified Basketball program concluded an undefeated season on Wednesday, Nov. 16, just one year after the program launched. The final game of the season was a close victory over Sharon 44-39.
The team played a full schedule of games, as well as a student vs. staff game. MHS Special Education Teacher David Rosa and MHS Paraprofessional Chris Fong served as coaches for the team.
“Unified basketball has been such a tremendous addition to our school community since it launched last year, and we have been able to keep building the program more and more since day one,” Coach Rosa said. “All of our athletes played to their full potential, and the crowds that came out and supported us throughout the season were just fantastic.”
The Unified Sports program in Massachusetts, run by Special Olympics Massachusetts in partnership with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, allows students with disabilities the opportunity to play high school sports alongside their peers in a fun and supportive environment.
As part of the program, student athletes with disabilities are paired with students without disabilities (known as “partners”). For basketball, there are three athletes and two partners on the court at all times, sharing responsibilities and playing as a cohesive team.
“At MHS, our Unified Sports Programs have brought the concept of inclusion to a whole new level,” Assistant Director of Secondary Special Education Tim Tichacek said. “Our athletes and their peers are now able to experience all that is wonderful about athletic competition in the most authentic way possible. I am proud to work in a Unified Champion School and I look forward to seeing the continued success of our program.”
Mansfield High School explored the idea of starting a Unified Basketball program in 2020, and the program joined the school’s Unified Track program which has run in the spring for several years.
The district is looking into offering a Unified Bocce Ball program as well.
“Unified athletics are such a tremendous tool to bring our entire school community together in a fun, supportive way,” Coach Fong said. “We are so grateful to everyone who has supported the Unified Basketball program this season, and look forward to seeing the program grow even more in the future.”
The end of the season will not be the last games for the program this year. MHS Unified Basketball has been invited to play in this year’s Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational basketball tournament at TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 21 and the team has accepted.
Members of the 2022 Unified Basketball team include: Kenny Barton, Dylan Monaghan, Kyle Quinn, Yaman Abou Allaban, Sawyer Low, Meghan O’Neil, Kathryn Guravage, Nate Cadet, Amanda O’Neill, Brooke Butler, Franckess Ceme, Sam Rosa, Leonard Dimitrov, Luke Barry, Hallie Popat, Mekhi Price, Leo Evans, Xavier Pierre, Max Dimarino, Jack Peabody, Owen Haaland and Matt Rabinovich.
Follow the Mansfield High School Unified Basketball program on Twitter here. For more information on Unified Basketball in Massachusetts, visit the MIAA website here.
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