A typical Sehome vs. Squalicum sporting event can get fierce between players, coaches and student sections. However, unified sports bring players from all backgrounds together for a common goal of playing a game and making friends.
Unified sports is a Special Olympics program that provides year-round competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. They are paired with people without intellectual disabilities, allowing them opportunities to remain active, create friendships and boost confidence.
“Unified sports are indescribable,” said Naaman Hinton, assistant coach for Squalicum’s unified basketball team. “I used to play basketball and the gym was full but it doesn’t compare with this energy. It is beautiful seeing fans root for both teams. It is the purest of joy someone can experience.”
Hinton, 44, was a multi-sport star athlete at Steilacoom when he was younger. He woke up one day at the age of 24 with double vision and was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Hinton has remained active in sports by becoming an assistant coach and tries to teach his student-athletes the importance of the game.
“The scoreboard doesn’t matter,” Hinton said. “It is about teamwork, camaraderie and sportsmanship.”
Student-athletes join unified sports teams for a variety of reasons. Squalicum’s Logan Pederson plays unified basketball, bowling and soccer. He enjoys playing sports because he can make new friends and have his family watch him at the games.
Sehome’s Evan Ramont tried playing competitive basketball in California. When Ramont moved to Bellingham, he began playing tennis, soccer and basketball. He also plans to try swimming and golf next year.
“Basketball is an active and cooperative team sport,” Ramont said. “This is my first time playing. It feels welcoming since California had no unified sports and it was really intense.”
Unified sports also create everlasting bonds between students who may have never crossed paths. Triya Mitchell, a soccer star at Sehome, has been a part of unified sports since sixth grade. At that time, she met one of her closest friends, Anna Osterkamp, and has been playing with her since then.
“When I think about unified, I get so excited,” Mitchell said. “There is a unique group of individuals that changes every year, but it is always something I am proud to be a part of. I love working with different people who come from different walks in life. They are dancing, singing and they high-five you while running down the court after scoring.”
Mitchell believes unified sports have changed her life in a variety of ways, by adding kindness and empathy to it and inspiring her to advocate for others.
“My love and compassion has grown not for these kids, but because of these kids,” Mitchell said. “It has made me a better version of myself by being a part of the program.”
Creation of unified sports
The Special Olympics and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) partnership formed in 2010 to create unified sports at the high school level. Only a few high schools in Seattle had unified sports in the first season. In 2013, the WIAA listed zero schools playing flag football, only nine schools providing basketball and 22 with soccer. Now, 145 elementary, middle and high schools have a unified sports team.
In 2025, Whatcom County has seven schools and 84 students participating in unified basketball. When Chuck Schelle began coaching unified basketball at Sehome about seven years ago, the Mariners were the only school in the area to provide the program.
“There was a smaller group and the word wasn’t really out that it was available,” Schelle said. “Soon after, it spread like wildfire and our team has over 30 basketball players. For a lot of the players, this may be their first game in front of an audience, under the lights with referees and uniforms that we take for granted. Some of these students have been left out and this brings them all together.”
As of 2025, every school in the Northwest Conference provides some aspect of unified sports. The sports provided include basketball, soccer, cheer, intramural bowling and robotics.
“We started with JV uniforms and the boys XXL shorts and begged people to join,” Mitchell said. “Now, we have fresh reversible jerseys and people come to the unified game(s). It has become a part of a school culture.”
Although each sport lasts about six weeks, it creates everlasting bonds within the community.
“It is beautiful to see our friends trying and the pure joy everyone has on both teams,” Hinton said. “It is like harmony where everybody’s a winner.”
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
