Westview’s annual Unity Basketball Game was held on Feb. 8. The Unity Basketball Game is an opportunity to give disabled students, who are typically unable to participate in sports, a chance to play in a sports team. The excitement of scoring a basket, celebrating with teammates, alongside roaring cheers from the stands was an experience made possible for these students through the game. 

The first Unity Basketball Game was held in 2017 and has been an important event that promotes inclusivity for all students ever since. For a lot of the students, the game is a chance for them to learn to play basketball for the first time. Tristan McGuire (11), who attended the Unity Basketball Game last year and cheered on his peers, was excited to play this year.

 “It was my first time playing basketball,” McGuire said. “My favorite part is passing.” 

This year’s game kept the audience on their toes, and the energy in the stands high. In the first quarter, few shots were missed and each team fought hard for the lead. The first half ended with a  score of 12-10, with Black Team in the lead. When the second half started, the crowd’s attention didn’t waver from the court. Abel Kassahun (12) helped put more points on the board for White Team and was their leading scorer. In the middle of the second half, White Team made a comeback, and managed to win the game, 26-22.

From having their names announced before the game started to celebrating with their teams when the final buzzer came, all the special moments the players were given made it a great experience for each and every one of them.

Special education teacher Meg Heidrick-Barnes, who has been at Westview since its opening in 2002, says the game is an important experience, not only for the participants, but for everyone at Westview.

“I think it’s a great thing for people to watch because it makes them realize that everyone can participate in sports and athletics, and you don’t have to be restricted,” Heidrick-Barnes said. “I think that’s good for the students at Westview and our whole community.” 

 Heidrick-Barnes also said she looked forward to having the Unity Basketball Game for the many years to come because of the feeling of pure joy it leaves on everyone involved. 

“To be able to see the happiness in all the students’ eyes, and the celebration of the students who aren’t used to it just warms my heart,” she said. 

An important aspect of the game that makes it significant for the athletes playing in the game, is the support they get from the student body. Each year, athletes from many other school sports teams support the Unity Game players by making signs and cheering them on from the stands. Some students participate as coaches who run practices during Wolverine Time for the two weeks leading up to the event. David Carr (10)  and Trevor Roland (10) volunteered to coach a team this year. Carr said that it is an incomparable experience for the disabled student athletes.. 

“It’s important for the students because it’s the only time they really get to compete in the sport for some of them, and it’s also really important for their parents because they get to go see them compete,” Carr said. 

Roland said that he and Carr helped make the experience fun for the athletes by applying their personal enjoyment  of basketball through coaching. 

“We are bringing the joy of sports into some people’s lives that don’t get a lot of opportunities,” Roland said. “For both of us, sports are a really big part of our lives, so being able to share our love of sports with them is a really great feeling.”

Tate Northcutt (12) played in his second Unity Basketball Game this year. For his mother Tara Northcutt, the game was an important event for their entire family because it provided them with the chance to be positively included in the school community. 

“The acceptance of [Tate’s] peers and community is something unique and special,” she said. “The students at Westview understand the importance of including all abilities, and it means the world to us. [Tate] really enjoys all sports, but especially basketball. He really loves getting to play the sport he loves.”