In his arena, Mason Weaver is Derek Jeter.
Weaver is the captain of his team, just like the former New York Yankees shortstop.
Weaver has an armband to prove it. Jeter only had a “C” on the front of his pinstriped jersey.
Both earned their titles of distinction by making the very best out of an opportunity to compete.
For Jeter, playing baseball opened trips to the World Series. For Weaver, playing a different kind of ball – Unified Bocce – just opened up his world.
Weaver took the floor for the last time as an athlete with Boonsboro on Saturday at the Washington County Unified Bocce District Tournament at South Hagerstown. At stake were a county title and a trip to the state tournament, which will be played at Hagerstown Community College next month.
As a special needs athlete, just the chance to be able to play a high school sport was almost bigger than any medal.
“It’s just so much fun,” said Weaver, who played for five seasons. “It’s an experience. I can play it for a long time. For kids, like me, it’s more fun.”
It’s also life changing in many ways for many people.
Washington County is one of 24 counties in the state who offer Unified Sports programs for special needs students in conjunction with Special Olympics Maryland. The objective is to promote social inclusion in schools through sports and competition.
Six county schools – Boonsboro, Smithsburg, North Hagerstown, South Hagerstown, Williamsport and Clear Spring – had multiple teams competing in Saturday’s tournament.
The teams consist of unified athletes (students with special needs) with helpers (general population students). The two groups work together to compete, while learning lessons along the way.
Weaver, for example, graduated through Boonsboro’s Connections program and is attending HCC in a similar program.
The opportunity to compete in Unified Sports has opened other aspirations for Weaver.
“This is my last year doing this,” he said. “I’m going to miss it, but I’m coming back here to coach. For me, when I play, I’m used to it. I never done coaching before.”
Room for everyone
The idea is simple.
Every student should be afforded the opportunity to have a complete high school experience.
That includes any chances to represent your school and wear its colors in competition.
Unified Sports provides that for special needs students.
In Maryland, the movement started in the early 2000s. It got those students in the game. Later, the program was elevated to varsity sports level, giving everyone a chance to earn a varsity letter.
That objective could be seen on the backs of the shirts worn by Clear Spring participants: Play Unified, Live Unified.
And it’s carried in the Special Olympics oath – “Let me win. If I can’t win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
“It gives some students who can’t play varsity sports a chance to get out there and be part of a team and get the feel for this winning environment,” said Boonsboro coach Terri McGrath. “Just the camaraderie out here, you can’t beat it.”
Bocce is Washington County’s winter activity of the three different Unified Sports offerings. Tennis is played in the fall and track and field is offered in the spring.
Bocce is a form of lawn bowling. The game itself is a cross between shuffleboard and horseshoes, or curling for those already in Winter Olympics mode.
It starts with a small target ball – known as the Pallino – is rolled onto a designated section of the playing field to start each frame. Each team has four opportunities, divided between athletes and helpers, to roll larger balls, aiming to get the closest to the smaller one.
The team that succeeds earns a point for every ball that rests between the Pallino and their opponent’s closest attempt.
It might not sound like much, but the competitive juices begin to flow.
“This is sports in its purest form, because of sportsmanship,” said Smithsburg coach Larry Eichelberger. “Win or lose, even if it isn’t your team is the one that rolls it close, we cheer. That’s what unified sports are, and I’m glad we are recognized as a varsity sport in all the local schools.
Getting to the kids. Giving them a chance. Seeing how their faces light up when they roll it close or they hit another ball out of the way or the Pallino. And just celebrating because all the kids come together. I’m just thankful to be part of that.”
It’s a small world after all
In Unified Sports, not everyone wins, but no one is allowed to leave feeling the pain of defeat.
Every shot is cheered, no matter the result.
Athletes and helpers form a strong bond that goes deeper than just teammates.
And there are awards.
On Saturday, the tournament was broken down to four divisions. The top three teams in each group were awarded medals – gold, silver and bronze – with fourth-place teams earning a ribbon.
Williamsport teams won three of the four divisions, while a Smithsburg 3 won the fourth. Those winning teams will represent the county in the state tournament.
Family tradition
It’s compelling to watch the athletes compete during the competition.
Dance moves, emotional displays and toothy grins are on full display after nearly play. So are “hero’s welcomes” from teammates as players return to the bench after their turn.
There is emotional draw from every action.
“It is my favorite thing to do because I’m passionate about it,” said Smithsburg athlete Natalia Swatzer-Haskins. “It’s my first year. We are focusing on where the balls are supposed to go. Just being able to play is more important.”
And in the case of Eichelberger, he understands that importance, so much so, Unified Sports have become a family tradition in reverse.
“All three of my kids participated in unified sports (as helpers),” he said. “One day, when we were at counties during my one daughter’s senior year, they didn’t have enough volunteers. I came down and I volunteered. Since then, I was hooked.”
“All my daughters, Kayla, Ashley and Camryn, all did bocce and one of them did tennis. It’s a great program. I love being around it.”
Eichelberger went from parent to volunteer and to assistant coach before taking Smithburg’s head coach position this season. To him, he didn’t need the title to be involved.
“I’d volunteer no matter if I was an assistant or a head coach. It’s a great program, and I want to make sure it keeps thriving,” he said. “I love seeing all the enthusiasm from all the kids who cheer for each other no matter what school you are from.
“(Special needs kids) gain being part of a team. They gain competing against their fellow athletes and doing the best they can. In reality, it’s being a part of a sport. Being able to compete, no matter of it’s a win or a loss. It’s the bus rides. It’s the memories they form from competing or just being part of practices. I think that feeling of community is the best thing the kids get out of it.”
The next generation
At one time, Unified Sports gave Hannah Donnelly what she needed. Now she is returning the favor.
After competing in the unified games for a few years, she is spending time with Smithsburg’s team as a Cameron Stout’s helper.
The secret is Stout helps Donnelly as much as Donnelly helps Stout.
“Last year was my first year with Cameron. She never has a bad day,” Donnelly said. “She literally a light in a dark room. She’s the sweetest girl ever. No matter what’s going on, she’s happy and it just rubs off on people.
“I just do this to see everyone else happy. A lot of these kids just don’t get an opportunity. I want them to have the same opportunity that I had in sports.”
For Donnelly, Unified Sports was her lifesaver.
“The first time I (participated) was as a freshman in Unified tennis,” she said. “I just wanted to be part of a team, but I was too intimidated to go out for a big sports team. Instead, I went out for the Unified tennis team, and I’ve done all three Unifieds for all my years here.
“Sports are all about partnership. It’s about teamwork. It’s not come down to that in a lot of the high school sports. This is all about community and teamwork, and that’s what makes it an actual sport.”
Donnelly is preparing to graduate from high school as a junior. Her fond experiences with Smithsburg’s growing Unified sports teams, and unconditional friendship with Stout have become her compass for future plans.
“My next move is to go to a four-year college and to major in special education,” she said. “(Stout) is the reason I am going to go into special education. I told her parents about what I was going to do today, and I got them to cry by accident.”
As a captain or a special needs teacher, in the end, the opportunities provided by Unified Sports are boundless.
