Old Rochester Regional Honored as Special Olympic Champion School
Old Rochester Regional High School is officially recognized as an official Special Olympics Massachusetts Unified Champion School for the 2020-2021 school year.
Out of almost 600 schools that participated, ORR was recognized as school No. 55. Schools that are involved in the Unified Sports create teams that are made up of students with disabilities who are partnered with students without. ORR has currently formed a unified basketball and track team. On average, a basketball team is made up of teams of 20 or more students while a track team has upwards of 70-80 students who participate, with some students moving between unified and varsity track.
Both teams will compete within the SouthCoast conference league of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). "(The program) Gives everyone an opportunity to be part of an amazing program and we are thrilled to see such high interest each season," Atheltic Director Bill Tilden said.
Among all the towns and cities in Massachusetts that were recognized as National Banner Unified Champion Schools within the Special Olympics program are Swansea, Somerset, Seekonk, South Dartmouth, Oak Bluffs, Marion, and Middleboro also made the list for the Class of 2021:
- Tabor Academy
- Martha's Vineyard Regional High School
- Middleborough High School
- Seekonk High School
- Somerset Berkey Regional High School
- Joseph Case High School
- Dartmouth High School
What a great program that deserves great recognition, especially to all of the schools that are currently paving the way to a kinder and integrated future for high school athletics. Kudos to ORR and the current SouthCoast schools who are spreading love and unity within the community. We need it now more than ever.