NFA Unified Basketball Creates Unity and Camaraderie

In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability. That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all. Having sport in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.

This is third year of Unified basketball in Section 9.  We have been a Unified Champion School since former athletic director, Mr. Semo brought the program to Newburgh.

Unified Champion Schools promotes social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without intellectual disabilities on sports teams (Special Olympics Unified Sports) through inclusive student clubs, together in school or community-wide initiatives, and by fostering youth leadership.

Team sports bring people together. Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams do that, too and much more. About 1.4 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a really fun way. ESPN has served as the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports since 2013, supporting the growth and expansion of this program that empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports.

Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

The NFA Unified team is 5-0 for the season.

Players include:

Yesenia Guiterrez-Martinez

Dakarai Gayle

Nyla Stone

Tyrese Boykin

Alexander Carino

Gisselle Cheatham

Amir Balaguer

Markell Williams

Alana Harris

Michael Castro

Andry Ramirez

Stephanie Ryder

J'son Meredith

Cheerleaders:

Gabriela Perez

Casey Caldwell

Carol Zapotila

Youth Activation Committee:

Gianna Oppenheimer

Shania Rodriguez

Student coaches:

Elijah Williams

Diamond Bullard

Ameesah Cotton

Caleb Simmons

Amarri Tice

The NFA Unifed Team is advised by: Ms. Sandy  Baines and Ms. Michele Bender.

More photos from the game against Arlington can be found here. 

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!