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Holland Christian Unified Soccer staff wins bronze at Particular Olympics
HOLLAND — The Unified Soccer staff at Holland Christian Excessive Faculty made fairly the debut this season.
Competing for the primary time this yr, the staff of common and particular schooling college students took house a state championship in October and earned a berth to signify Michigan within the Particular Olympic Video games in Florida in June.
On the worldwide video games in Orlando from June 5-12, the Holland Christian staff took on groups from Florida, South Carolina and the Bahamas and got here house with a bronze medal. The staff performed 4 complete video games, with two wins, a tie and a loss.
“To signify the state of Michigan down there’s a actually cool feeling,” VanWieren mentioned. “For us to get began up after which signify Michigan in Orlando was actually surreal.
“It was superior for the youngsters to be surrounded in that setting by so many superior individuals. It’s a great way to have a good time our Unified Sports activities at Holland Christian and all through the state. To have a good time Unified and the Particular Olympics via sport is a extremely cool feeling.”
Extra:Holland Christian Unified Soccer staff chosen for nationals
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The educators and coaches at Holland Christian say much more essential than the wins and medals the staff earns are the bonds solid between the scholars.
“One in all my targets as a particular schooling trainer at Holland Christian is to assist transfer the tradition of faculty to accepting and understanding of what belonging means for various individuals,” mentioned Ann Pawloski, HCHS trainer and coordinator for Unified Sports activities. “Unified Sports activities and Particular Olympics has actually been an effective way for that to occur. I’ve seen college students construct genuine friendships with one another via being teammates in Unified Sports activities.
“It’s been very profitable. We see that connection made throughout practices and video games, then transition to throughout the college day and even outdoors of faculty.”
“The good factor for me is seeing our groups hanging out outdoors of sports activities,” Vanwieren mentioned. “It’s at lunch, at school, within the hallways. It brings everyone collectively.”
Unified Sports activities groups include particular schooling college students, known as athletes, and common schooling college students, known as companions, taking part in collectively on the identical staff. Holland Christian has soccer, basketball and bocce ball groups for various grade teams.
For soccer groups, there are seven athletes and 7 companions on a staff. Holland Christian Excessive Faculty additionally has Unified basketball and aggressive bocce ball groups.
Pawloski mentioned the help of Particular Olympics Michigan has been essential in establishing and rising Holland Christian’s Unified groups. She additionally, together with workers from Particular Olympics Michigan, presents to different faculties to assist them get packages began.
Pawloski mentioned being a Unified Champion Faculty has helped construct connections between faculties, together with with Zeeland, which helped Holland Christian get their program began.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Observe him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.