Unified basketball set to debut at LHS
Lowell’s unified program began this fall, a student-inspired idea came to life.
Justin Scott - School News and Sports Reporter
27 Jan. 2025 - To appear in a future Ledger.
In 2022, Zeeland’s school district was the subject of a viral video that featured a blind student making a shot on the basketball court. It blew up, with organizations like ABC News and Sportscenter picking up the clip. It’s just one of the many examples of how unified sports helps those with various disabilities, both physical and intellectual, be able to learn life skills and showcase their talents in front of their peers.
Lowell got their unified program started this fall under the guidance of Special Education Teacher Michele Morrell. The idea came from members of Lowell’s LINKS Peer to Peer group. Peer to Peer is a student group that intentionally connects students with and without disabilities to promote belonging and acceptance. It isn’t a program that is unique to Lowell, but all school programs have the same goal: “improved outcomes for autistic students and a more positive, accepting school culture for all.”
Unified teams, like the basketball teams that will be playing this week, are made up of LINKS Peer to Peer students and their peers who have various disabilities.
“Last year, three of our LINKS students, Haleigh Stickney, Katey Rogers and Caden Cone, were discussing other UNIFIED teams at area high schools. They asked the question: Why don't we have a team at LHS? My teammate Kris Rickert and I, invited Kayla Kuczynski, Unified Champion Schools Coordinator (SW Region), to meet with the three students and several staff members. We learned about Special Olympics and Unified teams. We also found out that most West Michigan high schools have a Unified team. We decided to get on board and start our own. Last fall, we put our team together and began practicing twice a week during Flex time. Kris and I handle all of the organizational pieces and connected with area high schools in West MI to set up games. We have also been taking orders for "Choose to Include" t-shirts which people can wear to support our athletes,” Morrell told the Ledger about how Lowell’s Unified program got started. Morrell also noted that the LHS administration has been fully supportive in helping get this program off the ground.
To become a unified champion school, schools must have three required components, of which Lowell has all three. The components are inclusive sports, which are the new unified sports teams, whole school engagement, and inclusive youth leadership.
Basketball which begins this week, is just one of the sports that Lowell’s unified student-athletes compete in. In the fall, Lowell had a unified soccer team led by LHS girls soccer goalie Calli Rottier.
Rottier told the Ledger, "Inclusive sports help to make sure all students in our building have a chance to play sports and gain friendships with people on the field. During our soccer season in the fall, we practiced twice a week at LHS North Athletic complex or the gym. At the tournament we were split up into groups of two and we helped each other get points through a day long competition with other schools at The Inclusion Center by Special Olympics.
Lowell’s unified soccer program in the fall.
Fall’s sport, soccer, was held at the Unified Sports and Inclusion Center in Grand Rapids. In March, the team will also be attending a basketball skills event there.
Since being involved with Links Peer to Peer class and inclusion sports, I have met people of all abilities, and found some of the funniest and kindest kids in our school! The memories I have of my new friends learning, playing and loving a sport I love will last a lifetime. It brings me so much joy to see them enjoying it and succeeding at something new," Rottier concluded.
The basketball team will be coached by Spanish teacher Collin Kruzel and assisted by substitute teacher Ron Merrihew. Bocce ball will be the unified program’s spring sport.
The goal of unified sports is ultimately to help break down barriers through sports. Special Olympics of Michigan states that they are “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.In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability, which 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.”
Due to security reasons with all events taking place during the school day, attendance is limited , though the Ledger will be there for the January 29th home game. Other games will be at home February 21st vs. Wyoming, and then an away game on February 5th against Forest Hills Northern.
