CAZENOVIA — On Thursday, May 18, the Cazenovia High School (CHS) Unified Sports Basketball Team played its final home game of the season in the Buckley Gym against Baldwinsville.

The Lakers were victorious with a final score of 32 to 22.

Unified Sports join students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team to train, play together, and compete for their school.

Cazenovia Central School District’s (CCSD) 12-student, co-ed Unified Basketball team is coached by CHS Special Education Teacher Todd MacIntosh.

“The Cazenovia Unified Basketball Program is an inclusive opportunity for students with disabilities and gen. ed. students to learn, develop, and collaborate as basketball players [and] community members while developing friendships/relationships that will benefit them throughout their future in school and the real world,” said MacIntosh. “This opportunity allows them to build confidence, patience, and creativity in order for the team to be competitive, successful, and for [it to be] a fun experience.”

CHS also has a Unified Bowling team, which is coached by CHS Physical Education Teacher Brian Ellithorpe and plays from February through March. This year, the team finished first in the season-end tournament.

The district added Unified Basketball to its athletic programs last spring.

According to CCSD Athletic Administrator Mike Byrnes, CHS is one of the smallest schools in Section III to sponsor Unified Bowling and Unified Basketball teams.

“I am very proud that CCSD’s district administration and board of education have supported our school joining the Special Olympics New York Unified Sports Program partnered with the [New York State Public High School Athletic Association],” said Byrnes. “. . . Unified Sports allow all students to demonstrate their abilities in a competitive arena and learn from success and failure. Lessons of teamwork, responsibility, sportsmanship, and selflessness shine through during our games and practices. . . Unified Sports is one of the most rewarding activities we sponsor at CCSD. I am so proud of our athletes, partners, and fans. I have witnessed acts of kindness and fierce competition all at the same time; it’s a great thing.”

Byrnes also commended MacIntosh and Ellithorpe for leading the unified programs with class and thanked CHS Business Teacher Christina New for her support as the advisor to the Youth Activation Committee (YAC), a requirement of Unified Sports.

According to New, the YAC is a group of students that has been actively helping to market the Unified Sports teams.

“The Youth Activation Committee makes signs and banners for the team and helps to spread the word for fans to attend the home games,” New said. “. . . It’s been a great experience for everyone involved.”

MacIntosh also remarked on the far-reaching impact Unified Sports have had on the CCSD community.

“The experience has shown benefits beyond just team members and their families as the community has embraced and supported us,” he said. “Christina New [and Mike Byrnes] have been leaders in building the program and spearheading school support since last April, our first year in the Section III Unified Basketball League. Other coaches and teachers have been [involved] in providing support in building the team as well as supporting me as a coach with team-building strategies and equipment.”

Unified Basketball practices began on April 11 this year, and the team played its first of six regular season games on May 3 at home against Liverpool.

During the team’s May 18 game, the following senior players were recognized at halftime: Connor Wilcox, Connor Adams, Jessa Rhorberg, Kiana Vazquez, and Ian Decker.

The team is scheduled to wrap up its 2023 regular season on May 23 at West Genesee High School.

For Evan Rice, a junior, a highlight of playing on the team has been getting to support the other players.

“It’s just good to help out the kids, give them confidence going into other sports that they do,” said Rice. “They can just have a good time, learn to play organized sports, and just [feel] good.”

To learn more about Unified Sports, visit specialolympics.org.