HOLLAND, Mich. — Holland High School's unified basketball team took on Grand Rapids Christian on Wednesday for their last game of the season, in what the district said was the "game of the year."
The entire student body was invited to fill the stands at Holland High School along with cheerleaders, a pep band and even some students from the K-5 buildings.
Special Olympics Unified Sports bring students with intellectual disabilities (officially called the athletes) together with students without disabilities (officially called the partners) and put them all on the same team.
At any time during a game, an equal or greater number of athletes to partners need to be playing.
The idea behind Special Olympics Unified Sports is to not only give students with special needs a more normal experience, but also to use sports as a way to build friendships and understanding among students.
"It's been amazing," said Kayla Gearring, a special education teacher and the organizer of Unified Sports. "The confidence from the first game to now has just soared with the students in and outside of the games. The confidence is better in the classroom... It builds inclusion and empathy that can go throughout the whole community."
Rionna Garino, a junior at Holland High School and a student-athlete, said what sticks out to her while playing in the unified games is the kindness on the court.
"My favorite part so far is seeing the kindness between players," Garino said. "When we typically go up against other teams, there is nothing but kindness, which I have never experienced as a student-athlete playing basketball and softball and stuff. I've never experienced complete kindness all the way around."
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