A movement towards inclusion and teamwork has united local students from high school to high school. Despite the division of sport rivalry or friendly competition, Newbury Park High School [NPHS], Westlake High School and Thousand Oaks High School all participated in a series of soccer games for their Unified Sports programs. The games were held on April 17 at the Thousand Oaks High School football field and were made possible by the help and support of student volunteers, faculty, and special education aids. Each member of the event worked together harmoniously for a fun day filled with teamwork and collaboration for each team.
Stephanie Berry, a senior at NPHS and the current president of our Unified Sports program, has dedicated the last four years of her life to the program, where she hopes to make a positive impact on campus. As president, Berry is responsible for coordinating and overseeing events, as well as working alongside her board to accomplish all of the program’s events.
“My favorite part [of being in Unified Sports] is the community, just everyone coming together and having fun. I find it rewarding because at the end of the day, everyone here is genuinely my friend and I’ve built a lot of connections in relationships with a lot of amazing people. And we’re all here to have fun and play sports,” Berry said.
There are numerous events and games the Unified team takes part in and have fun with throughout the year. Beyond soccer, the students also love being a part of the swim team. Angela Thomas is a paraeducator who has served NPHS for the past 20 years. Thomas is the co-coach for the Unified Sports swim team. The first year of their formation, the swim team competed in CIF and had some students win their respective events and become champions. Being able to aid the students as well as view their personal growth, experiences, and accomplishments is a rewarding aspect of being involved in unified sports to Thomas. “We’re all part of the big community, and we also shouldn’t single anyone out. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we should try to incorporate everyone as much as possible,” Thomas said.
Amongst the incredible staff and organizers of the event, the players have just as much passion and commitment. Phoenix Byrd, freshman, was full of energy and excitement for his peers. Byrd could be seen on the sidelines clapping and cheering for everyone throughout the game, but when on the field, his favorite position was “goalie,” Byrd said.
All the players were very supportive of each other on and off the field, prioritizing community engagement and togetherness. Sofia Cotto, junior, said her favorite part of the event was “being with friends,” Cotto said.
Unified Sports creates an environment where individuality is recognized, celebrated and built on the foundation of a team. Through their community bonding with both Thousand Oaks and Westlake, Newbury Park students were able to showcase their talent and have fun with their friends. The event would not be possible without the dedicated aids and buddies, as well as the authentic friendships between all participating members, which shone throughout the event. Unified Sports is a busy and vital program, and the tri-school soccer game highlighted just how much fun the program fosters.
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