Ranging from elementary school athletes to post-secondary competitors, students from across the district participated in this year’s annual Unified Sports Track Meet on May 9. Organized and sponsored by the Na tional Honor Society [NHS] and a variety of sports teams, Unified Sports prioritizes the inclusion of students with all abilities, creating friendships between all participants.
The process of organizing the event involves a partnership between NHS and athletes of the Unified Sports Club. According to Lorena Caulfield, the Sports Medicine teacher at NPHS who helped organize the event, students from NHS work with the athletes on learning the different skills and games that will be featured.
“There’s the athletes, and then there’s buddies. The athletes are the ones that have differentiating disabilities and the buddies are what we would call a regular education student. They are volunteers that come in and work with the athletes,” Caulfield said.
Cheered on by his siblings, Mason and Chailyn, through every event, Cavin Fortin, athlete from Sequoia Middle School, raced across the track to the finish line. Although the track event was not Cavin Fortin’s first Unified Sports activity, his mom, Chantal Fortin, has watched his abilities progress each year.
“[Cavin’s] dancing skills have definitely gotten better. And as has his skills in general, being able to vocalize more,” Chantal Fortin said. “He was on life support for quite a few years, so that interfered with his vocal abilities. So now he is able to verbalize more and be a bigger part of the community this way. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Alongside typical track and field competitions, athletes also had the opportunity to engage in a multitude of activities organized by various NPHS clubs and organizations. From face paint to cornhole, every athlete was able to find an activity they enjoyed most. Siya Tanuku, athlete from Sequoia Middle School, competed in the long jump event, earning a gold medal. After a long day
participating in each of the events, Tanuku’s favorite part was trying to blow the biggest bubble and running through the obstacle course.
Recruiting buddies and being a buddy at the event, Makenna Cotton, senior, began attending Unified Sports meetings in her sophomore year. For the most part, events put on by Unified Sports throughout the year are only with Westlake High School and Thousand Oaks High School. The Unified Sports Track Event is an annual unique event, in the sense that it also fosters growth and inclusion with local middle and elementary schools.
“Unified Sports has helped me see inclusion as not just setting a place at the dinner table but working to include everyone in the conversation,” Cotton said. “Unified Sports is a place where people, regardless of their perceived capabilities, come together to have an incredible time; I can’t imagine that anyone wouldn’t want to be in and part of a space like this one.”
The Unified Sports Track Meet was open to all ages, continuing to foster a community of friendships. Davie Alday, athlete from the Conejo Valley Post-Secondary Program competed in the long jump event, softball event, and his favorite, the 50-meter dash.
“My favorite part about today is that all of these schools are out here and that we are participating in the track and field events,” Alday said.
Despite the planning that is necessary to allow these county-wide events to run successfully, Caulfield feels that the work is worth it. She notices the positive atmosphere and how the athletes always have a smile on their face after participating in the activities.
“It’s just a really good event. I don’t think anyone leaves sad that they participated,” Caulfield said.
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