On the court at Millard North, every pass, every play, and every cheer shows the power of Special Olympics Unified Sports.
In Special Olympics Unified Sports, individuals with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and those without (partners) participate on the same team for training and competition, promoting inclusion and friendship.
The team is led this year by coach Katie Fusselman, who has been a resource teacher at MN for eight years. This season has marked her second year as head coach of the Unified Basketball team.
Fusselman has coached the MN Unified Basketball team in preparation for upcoming competitions, including the East Regional Tournament in March and the Spring Games Tournament in April.
“This year, since we went through a full season, we knew what to expect.
We knew our tournaments would be in March and April, so we focused on practicing in January, February, and March to be ready for the final tournament in April,” Fusselman said.
As the season has intensified, establishing routines for practice within students’ full schedules has been challenging.
“Finding consistency and being able to attend practices regularly, that’s a challenge for the partners, especially because we practice on Sundays,” Fusselman said.
Despite many challenges, they have tackled them and made it work with significant support from the partners.
“Our partners, Chase and Johnny, returned this year, and I think what’s most helpful for us is just their consistency… it helps to have our partners organize the practices with us,” Fusselman said.
One of these returning partners, junior Chase Fisher, has been involved with the Unified Basketball team ever since his freshman year. He has stepped up as a partner this year, proving himself as a leader on the basketball court.
“When we’re down, we have a team meeting and talk about what’s going on. Everyone agrees and works together,” Fisher said.
The team’s partners have gained significant experience over the past few years, as evidenced by their growth in leadership roles.
“I focus more on leadership. I get rebounds and pass the ball to my teammates so they can score and get involved,” Fisher said.
Fisher’s desire to assist in leading the team reflects the.program’s emphasis on collaboration and lifting others up.
“I think with our partners, we see a lot of growth in their leadership. It can be difficult to shift from the role of being an athlete and competitor to being a partner who is supportive and focused on helping others succeed,” Fusselman said.
During competitions, the team shows support for one another, displaying the chemistry the players have forged over the past few years.
“I think what makes Unified Sports so fun and exciting is that people cheer for both teams. It’s all positive, friendly competition—everyone just wants to get better, and the kids are excited to be there and to perform,” Fusselman said.
After games, the players reflect on areas of improvement. Sophomore Matthew Hulsebusch, an athlete on the squad, has thought about his experiences with the team.
“We’re working on getting closer to the win and improving as a team. My favorite part of being on the team is just playing basketball and being out there with everyone,” said Hulsebusch.
As an invaluable part of Millard North, the Unified Sports Program helps students develop their athletic skills, confidence, and leadership.
“Without it, those kids might not feel included. I’m happy they have this so they can feel loved and appreciated,” Fisher said.