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United Through Hoops at North Middlesex – Sentinel and Enterprise

Posted on by Pranco
United Through Hoops at North Middlesex – Sentinel and Enterprise

TOWNSEND – Superintendent Brad Morgan is pleased to announce that North Middlesex Regional High School hosted a Unified Sports Basketball Jamboree featuring student-athletes from North Middlesex, Ayer-Shirley, Littleton and Groton-Dunstable high schools.

On Tuesday, North Middlesex Regional High School hosted a Unified Sports Basketball Jamboree as part of the Unified Sports Basketball season, which runs from Oct. 7 to Nov. 19.

Unified Sports is a program of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts that focuses on promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competitive experiences. Unified Sports brings people with and without intellectual disabilities together in the same team, inspired by the principle that training together and playing together is a fast path to friendship and understanding.

The Jamboree included three matches for each team. Each match consisted of two 10-minute halves, with family and friends cheering on the athletes from the sidelines.

North Middlesex High School was coached by Mandy Connor, Groton-Dunstable High School was coached by Angus MacDonald, Littleton High School was coached by Erik Arnold and Ayer-Shirley Regional High School was coached by Chad Linstruth. Jess Boccelli and Shannon Belanger served as assistant coaches for North Middlesex.

Ryan Burson and David Lorden both volunteered to serve as referees for the Jamboree, while volunteers Jake Steinmann and Nolan Lyle ran the scoreboards and Kathryn Douglas managed the scoreboard clocks. Ryan Demar and Jason Rivers also volunteered to help set up the event.

Student athletes share handshakes after a game between North Middlesex High School and Groton-Dunstable High School. (Courtesy of North Middlesex Regional High School)
Student athletes share handshakes after a game between North Middlesex High School and Groton-Dunstable High School. (Courtesy of North Middlesex Regional High School)

The event also included a fundraiser that raised $157 to support the Unified Sports Programs in North Middlesex. North Middlesex students Morgan Morris and Sophie Pofcher raised money.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all the volunteers who helped make this event so special for all the student-athletes who participated,” said Superintendent Morgan. “We are very proud of our Unified Sports program here at North Middlesex, but none of it would be possible without the dedication of our staff and volunteers.”

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