Ten Alpine athletes representing Team Utah earned a bronze medal in basketball at the Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis. The team, composed of Life Skills students and peer tutors from Westlake High School and ATEC-West, competed in the Interscholastic Unified Division 3 against top national teams.
The victory concluded six months of intense preparation and dedication for the group.
Head coach Loretta McClure, who has been with the Alpine School District Unified Sports program since 2018, described the experience of coaching the team at the games as one of the most rewarding moments of her career. She noted that the pride and excitement shown by the athletes was unforgettable.
The Unified Sports program works by pairing students with intellectual disabilities with peer tutors to compete together. McClure stated that the program has become a culture of belonging that has positively impacted the entire school community by breaking down social barriers in classrooms, hallways, and on the court.
For many participants, the program provided significant personal growth. Student-athlete Ryker reported that the experience helped him overcome being a loner and allowed him to form meaningful friendships with teammates. He stated that earning the bronze medal exceeded his expectations, as his primary goal was simply to see how far the team could go.
Parent Aimee Fuller observed that the program helped her son, Curran, develop self-esteem, social skills, and coordination. She noted that the team provided a group of friends that helped him blossom into his authentic expression.
Peer tutor Eli expressed enjoyment in traveling to the national tournament and learning from his teammates. Coach McClure emphasized that the mission of the coaching staff is to work with each athlete to help them reach their full potential both on and off the court, encouraging the community to see students for their abilities rather than their limitations.
