Puyallup High School offers unified sports in cycling, golf, bowling, basketball, soccer, and softball. On September 20 Puyallup High School’s Unified Softball team was honored at the school board meeting for their outstanding season.

Two years ago the high school started the Unified Softball team. The interest increased, and the team continued to grow. This summer the Unified Softball team spent their summer practicing and competing. They began their season in June with practices, and the practices paid off.

On July 27 the Unified Softball team was in Olympia for the softball Southwest Region tournament where they won the gold medal. The victory advanced the team to state tournament. The team played so well the Special Olympics organization bumped them up to a more challenging division.

On August 17 the team was in Everett for the two-day state tournament. After advancing to the semi-finals, the unified team found themselves down four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Like a scene out of a great movie, the underdogs were not giving up. With only two innings left, the team scored five runs and won the game. The victory advanced them to the finals.

Still relishing in the success of the previous game, the team returned to the field on August 18. Their winning streak continued as they defeated a team from Wenatchee for the championship.

Unified Sports are an inclusive sports program that unites Special Olympic athletes and partners them with peer athletes. It is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. This was motivated by a straightforward fundamental basis: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Approximately 1.4 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports. 

Unified Sports is also an integral part of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools. The program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. Each year Special Olympics Washington requires new or returning schools to register their school and provide what sports/activities the schools want to participate in and how staff can best support the school throughout the year.

A Champion School promotes a school climate that:

·          * Is free from bullying and exclusion.

·          * Combats stereotypes and negative attitudes.

·          * Eliminates hurtful language.

·          * Promotes healthy activity and interactions.

·          * Is welcoming and values the engagement of all students.

On October 15 at 9:40 a.m. Puyallup High School will be presented with a national banner recognition as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. The high school has demonstrated a commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence.  

Puyallup will be the one of six schools in Washington State to receive the recognition this year. Families and the community are invited to attend the nationally recognized honor.