Wareham High Unified Track and Field Team Wins State Championship

WAREHAM (WBSM) — Wareham High School is celebrating after its Unified Track and Field Team took home the Division II State Championship trophy last month.

The Unified Track and Field team competed in the State Championship at Natick High School on Tuesday, May 28. There were 33 Division 2 teams participating, and 11 out of the 18 Unified Track and Field members qualified to participate in the State Meet.

It was a close match during the championship, as the team scored 81 points, beating Sandwich by only two points.

Days later, on June 3, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) presented the team with individual medals and a trophy at the high school.

The championship win is a testament to the student's commitment and hard work throughout the year.

The regular season, which includes four meets with regional schools – two home and two away – saw the team members practicing twice a week for an hour and a half.

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Although team points were not recorded during the season, distances for field events and times for track events are kept.

"The goal for each season is for the kids to be active and get comfortable doing things that might be hard or challenging for them," Unified Track and Field Coach Megan Kashner said. "Being on this team provides our athletes opportunities to make and feel their own progress. We are so proud of them for their efforts this year."

The Unified Sports program in Massachusetts, run by Special Olympics Massachusetts in partnership with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, provides students with disabilities the opportunity to play high school sports alongside their peers in a fun and supportive environment.

Special Olympics Unified Sports brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities and athletes without intellectual disabilities (Unified Partners) to train and compete on the same team.

The program not only improves participants' physical fitness and sharpens their skills, but it also fosters a sense of acceptance and inclusion, making high school sports a truly inclusive experience.

Hard work and dedication have paid off for the Unified Track and Field members. With their accomplishments, Wareham High School can record another historic win.