Brothers Push Each Other to Excellence in Adapted Sports

Brothers Quintin and Grayson Nicolay have more than demonstrated their athletic talents over the past few years.

• Both are three-sport athletes. Grayson, an eighth grader at , was approached about playing high school sports as a sixth grader. Quintin, a senior at , also has been playing high school sports since he was a middle schooler.

• Both were named to multiple all-state-tournament teams this school year—Grayson in three sports, Quintin in two.

• Both were named most valuable players on their hockey teams this past season.

And they're accomplishing all this in the face of factors that would hold back some athletes.

Grayson and Quintin play soccer, floor hockey and softball on the Dakota United Hawks adapted sports teams, which combine all eligible seventh-through-12th graders in District 196. Grayson plays in the physical-impairment (PI) division, Quintin in the cognitive-impairment (CI) division.

In the PI division, players have a physical impairment that prevents them from competing in a non-adapted league. Grayson wears a leg brace after being run over by a car as a 4-year-old; while he wrestled and played basketball in non-adapted leagues growing up, wearing the brace prevented him from continuing on that track.

In the CI division, players have an IQ of 70 or lower. There are usually more players in the CI division, said Brett Kosidowski, who has coached the Nicolay brothers on multiple teams.

Though adapted sports are becoming more widely known, it can still be difficult to identify all the students who are eligible for the teams, and then to overcome the stigma still attached to the sports. Kids don't want to be labeled, Kosidowski said.

But he tells them to give it two weeks. After their accomplishments are acknowledged, they'll usually stick with the program, he said.

"[Other] kids recognize them for what they're good at," Kosidowski said. "It's been amazing."

Kosidowski has no trouble recognizing the skills of the Nicolays, who are not just great athletes but team leaders, as captains.

Grayson, who scored 60 goals in PI adapted floor hockey this season, is "right on the spot" and "vital" to his teams, Kosidowski said.

"He's just dominating everybody," Kosidowski said, though Grayson is more of a game-day player than a practicer. "I always forget that he's still an eighth grader."

Quintin is athletically talented—with 27 goals and 17 assists this past hockey season, he said—and a good team player.

"He's just so positive," Kosidowski said.

Grayson and Quintin also can attest to the benefits of the adapted sports programs. Apart from getting to exercise their natural athletic talents—they also have several older siblings who succeeded in sports—and love for competing, they both said they've made good friends on their teams.

"There’s a lot of friendships," said Grayson and Quintin's mom, Virginia Nicolay. "Everybody kind of watches out for everybody.” Even the families of the players helps each other; without district bus services to get players to and from practices and games, they've volunteered their own transportation services.

"If it weren’t for parents stepping up and giving rides, I don’t know if these guys necessarily would be in [adapted sports]," Virginia said.

Though Grayson and Quintin play in different divisions, and therefore on different teams, they still help fuel each others' successes.

When they're at the same venue for state competitions, Kosidowski said they encourage and cheer for each other, while maintaining a level of competitiveness—at state hockey, when Grayson scored several goals, Quintin one-upped him with an extra.

"They push each other, definitely," Kosidowksi said. "It's cool to watch them get together—they're very proud of each others' accomplishments."

Kosidowki said his goal for adapted sports in the district is to step up recruiting efforts, by talking more with physical education teachers about potential players and even creating a recruitment video.

Grayson and Quintin have goals for their athletic futures, as well.

Quintin graduated this spring and hopes to continue on and in the area, which serve kids and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities.

Grayson, with a handful of years left in the program, has his eye on a state championship—something his brother snagged in floor hockey as a freshman.

Though he's a natural athlete, he'll keep practicing his shots.

"The garage door’s kind of showing it,” Virginia said.