Lawrence High Unified Soccer finished up its season in late April, competing in the KC Metro Region Unified Soccer Tournament.
LHS brought over 20 partners and athletes to participate, including two graduated Unified athletes, Treven Gill and Jackson Martin. Both were seniors at LHS last year, and were involved in Unified Sports all four years. The Unified Soccer team invited them back to play in their final tournament. Senior Alden Parker-Timms knew both Martin and Gill during their time at LHS, and was excited to see them return.
“They brought a lot of good energy to the team,” Parker-Timms said.
Junior Valeriano Aguinaga agreed. He was particularly excited to play on the same team as Martin and Parker-Timms.
“It’s so much fun with my friends,” Aguinaga said.
The Unified program promotes sports inclusivity, and aims to provide athletic opportunities for students of all abilities.
“It brings people together,” junior Hannah Jenicke said. She added that the sports community is particularly unique.
“Sports just in general help people connect in a different way and communicate,” Jennicke said.
The tournament, run by Special Olympics Kansas, featured around ten unified teams from across the state, each with partners and athletes. Lawrence High’s white team brought home gold, and the red and black teams placed third and fourth respectively. Jennicke was a partner on the black team.
“We got fourth place and we still got a bronze medal, which was really exciting just for all of us to still feel like we’re a part of it,” she said.
Parker-Timms believed the inclusive environment made for a good spirited event. “Everybody was happy and excited to be out there and everyone had fun,” he said.
Parker-Timms added that since Unified is open to students of all abilities, players don’t have to have any background in the sport to join.
“If you participate and create some good energy, you’ll have a good time doing it,” Parker-Timms said.
Jennike agreed.
“It brings people with different backgrounds together,” she said. “And it can help people feel like they’re wanted and belong.”
