SPORTS

“It’s great to see our athletes do things they have never done before,” said Ballard. “Some have never been out of the country; others have never been on an airplane or gotten a passport, or even been on an escalator. I never would have thought an escalator ride would have been a first for somebody, but it was. I mean, we don’t have those around Chino Valley!”

David Gehman, a member of the Class of 2018 at Chino Valley High School, spent three years as a Unified Sports Partner in high school while working with a special needs camp through his church. He is now seeing his goal of pursuing a career in the field come true and is currently a paraprofessional in the Special Education Department at CVHS.

“I see our students really come out of their shells when they participate in the program,” said Gehman. “Developing better communication skills, social skills, spending time with a wider group of classmates, all of this really benefits both the athletes and the partners.”

Gehman says the program benefits partners as much or more than the athletes.

“Learning how each student deals with their own challenges, overcoming huge odds emotionally, socially, and physically is so encouraging to everyone involved,” said Gehman.

Anyone interested in the Unified Sports events, sponsorship opportunities, or students interested in becoming Partners, please contact Jenda Ballard at www. ChinoValleySchools.com.

For more info. on Special Olympics visit www.SpecialOlympics.org.

Information on Unified Sports programs nationwide is available at www.SpecialOlympics.org/what-we-do/sports/ unified-sports

3/30 | HOME vs. Wickenburg • Section

3/31 | AWAY @ Blue Ridge • Section

4/1 | AWAY @ Scottsdale Christian • Section

4/4 | AWAY @ Page • Non-Section

4/6 | HOME vs. Odyssey Buckye • Non-Section

4/8 | HOME vs. Fountain Hills • Section

4/11 | AWAY @ Camp Verde • Section

4/14 | HOME vs. Camp Verde • Section

4/17 | HOME vs. Northwest Christian • Section

4/20 | AWAY @ Northwest Christian • Section 4/24 | HOME vs. Sccottsdale Christian • Section

• HOME | • AWAY