Daniel Barich, 18, made a 3-point shot for Fort Vancouver High School’s Special Olympics Unified basketball team. His mom, Trish Smith, captured it on video on her smartphone.
The game was like any other basketball game with artful 3-pointers and plenty of high-fives.
Yet, it was different. More heartfelt. An athlete who made a basket stopped to hug the referee. Players passed the ball and made sure everyone got a shot.
Saturday’s basketball tournament at Fort Vancouver High marked the debut of Special Olympics Unified Sports in Clark County. Teams from Fort, Columbia River, Hudson’s Bay and Skyview high schools played two Unified teams from Puyallup.
Although Special Olympics has been active in Clark County for some time, its Unified Sports program is new. Unified teams combine an approximately equal number of Special Olympics athletes and their partners, who are other students without intellectual disabilities. Males and females play on the same team. Each team played three Special Olympics athletes and two partners.
Before each 20-minute game, the Fort Vancouver High School pep band played Queen’s “We Will Rock You” in the darkened gym. The athletes’ names were called, and a spotlight focused on the players as they ran through a line of screaming cheerleaders.
“We treat these athletes like any other team,” said Mick Hoffman, director of safety, security and athletics at Vancouver Public Schools. “We like this to be as authentic as any other sporting event. It’s not about who wins or loses, but it is competitive. We do keep score.”
After Fort’s game, the players settled on the bleachers to cheer for the next game. Barich sat next to his teammate Starlight Johnson, 14.
“The team that goes home winners, it doesn’t matter,” said Johnson, clapping for Skyview’s team.
“Let’s go, Skyview! Defense! Good try, guys! C’mon!” Barich yelled, also clapping.
Barich has played on Special Olympics basketball, soccer and softball teams in the past and has gone to state in all three sports. He was torn about staying with the traditional Special Olympics team or trying the new Unified team, said Smith, Barich’s mom.
“I think it’s a good program,” said Smith. “It’s been good for Daniel socially.”
Special Olympics Unified Sports comes to Clark County
• Call Suzy Adams at Fort Vancouver High School, 360-313-1039
• Learn more at <a href="http://www.specialolympics.org/unified-sports.aspx">www.specialolympics.org/unified-sports.aspx</a>
What’s next for Barich?
Soccer, he said with enthusiasm.
Hoffman and the coaches already are gearing up for the next step: Special Olympics Unified Sports soccer teams.
So far, schools in Vancouver, Evergreen, Battle Ground, Camas and Washougal have shown interest in forming Unified high school teams.
“We want to get the word out so more kids will join,” Hoffman said.
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