A statewide soccer event is uniting individuals all through the state in a particular manner. Unified Soccer is organized via Special Olympics Oklahoma and practically 60 groups competed in Wednesday’s occasion.(*60*)
Organizers stated the aim of the event is about greater than scoring objectives. It’s about placing apart variations and making friendships that may final off the sphere.(*60*)
“Enjoying, having fun and being myself on that field no matter what,” said Wagoner High School senior Jayden Pilent.
“We began follow yesterday,” stated Wagoner High School senior Paul Lamberson.(*60*)
Lamberson and Pilent are on the identical staff and each love enjoying soccer.(*60*)
“I like kicking the ball,” Lamberson said.
“Just having fun with it and seeing the ball go flying to the objective,” Pilent stated.(*60*)
Around 60 Oklahoma groups took the fields on the Owasso Sports Complex. Players traveled from cities so far as Idabel, Yukon, and Mustang to close by like Broken Arrow and Jenks.(*60*)
Each staff consists of individuals with particular Olympians and companions who play with them.(*60*)
Sports Director Robert Schaefer stated the occasion is open to all ages from elementary to grownup.(*60*)
“The opportunity for those kids to be accepted by their peer group is huge and it carries over into all aspects of their life,” Schaefer said.
He said soccer is unifying and teammates can become friends.
“You get to know them. You go follow with them, you go to lunch with them, quickly you may see them within the corridor and as an alternative, it is excessive fives as an alternative of, ‘what’s he about,’” Schaefer stated.(*60*)
The sport is permitting youngsters with particular wants to only be youngsters.(*60*)
“A lot of people think these kids are limited to only do so much, but they just come out here and show everyone that they can do just as much as anyone else,” said Unified Partner and Wagoner High School junior Lanie Brown.
“My brother has autism, so to see kids like him be able to do things like that, I love it,” said Unified Coach.
“I do not know who will get probably the most out of it, the particular Olympians or the unified companions. I do know they each achieve so much from this chance,” Schaefer stated.(*60*)
The event is bringing individuals collectively for the love of the sport, however primarily, proving we’re not as totally different as we predict.(*60*)
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