At Westside High School, athletics is one of the most pivotal aspects of our institution. Considering this, obviously all should be included. Unified athletic teams give all students a chance to become involved in sports at Westside. For some students, this type of team might be their only chance to play a sport that they love and are passionate about. This is such a great opportunity for students because it opens the playing field to all. At the forefront of this community is Westside’s Unified Bowling team. Head Coach and supervisor of the program, Melissa Lingerfelt, has been involved in the program for several years now. Lingerfelt has strong opinions about the pros of the program and how it can push the agenda of inclusion in sports.
“I am a huge supporter of the Unified movement, it does a lot for inclusion,” Lingerfelt said. “I love seeing the athletes and partners become friends; a lot of them want to be on the same teams for bowling many years in a row. It is also amazing to see the athletes treated like athletes, often their talent is underestimated just because they have a disability.”
Spreading the word about this movement is half the battle. Coach Lingerfelt wants more than anything to get anyone and everyone involved in an effort to grow the organization. Overall, she wants to make sure sports is something that can be a place for everyone.
“A lot of my recruitment is word of mouth,” Lingerfelt said. “The athletes (students with disabilities) and partners (gen ed peers) on the team love it and typically stick with it all 4 years. A lot of the partners are also on the Varsity bowling team, and they will tell their friends and teammates about Unified Bowling! It’s really nice to have great bowlers on the team to give each other extra coaching/support.”
Coach Lingerfelt has been an avid supporter and a spokesperson for the movement for several years now. This season, she sees the sky as the limit for her and her team of bowlers.
“I would love to have my district team make state,” Lingerfelt said. “We have had a couple close years being the runner up at Districts. I joked with Mr. Kerkman and said that by my fifth year coaching I would win state, this is my 4th year so I’d love to achieve that goal. My main concern during the season is that my team has fun building lifelong relationships. Each year the bowling skill has improved though, and that is also very exciting.”
So if state is the team goal for the season, how do they plan on getting there? Practices and development will be a key component for the team this season.
“We get one practice per week,” Lingerfelt said. “I use this to practice bowling in Baker Trios observing the bowlers, and giving tips on form and aim as needed. Our matches are about weekly after that and the teams bowl 6 Baker games. During the games I circulate, checking scores, giving encouragement, saying hello to the player’s parents, and making sure everything is running smoothly. Again, with a lot of returning players each year, they know the drill.”
The team also has many student assistants who help the organization run and aid towards the day to day operations. For the kids who help run the program, the message that Unified sends to families and students holds a very large precedent in their life. Junior Will Tomcykowski is one of these students who helps out around the school in making sure all of these athletes feel like they have a place where they can feel included and comfortable.
“I think Unified sports is extremely important to the social life of the kids who participate in it,” Tomcykowski said. “It allows them to get equal opportunity and provides a fun after school activity. On top of that, it ensures that they will have a place to be encouraged to make new friends and foster great relationships with their teammates.”
As for the team, the Warriors are mounting up for a solid season. Looking at their roster, they have a team full of students who cannot wait to get out and bowl. Junior Henry Kipper-Yaddell had a short but sweet sentiment when asked about what being a part of the team means to him.
“I’m a trier,” said Kipper Yadell.
Additionally, Lilli Root cannot wait to get out and bowl again. Root mentioned that bowling is a great way for her and her teammates to spend time together and compete in a fun environment.
“Yesterday we had a game and it was really fun,” Root said. “We got to hang out with our classmates and our other teammates on the team. I made a friend who is on my team. He always says good job and encourages me.”
Coach Lingerfelt stated that this Unified movement provides an opportunity for many people. Between athletes, coaches like herself, and peer models; all are encouraged to participate. This idea seems like it is becoming more and more rare in the current world of sports. Understanding this, Lingerfelt believes that the kids she has coached have impacted just as much as she has impacted them.
“Coaching this team is my favorite part of the year,” Lingerfelt said. “I was never an athlete and I never imagined being a coach when I got into teaching, but inclusion is my passion and Unified sports are a great way to draw in students who may not have gotten involved in inclusion otherwise. A lot of our Unified Partners also become peer models at WHS and vice versa. As a teacher, I love being able to say hi to kids in the hallway by name, and getting to know gen ed students’ names means a lot to me because it just might mean as much to them.”
