A Victory For Kindness Was Scored On BRHS' Unified Soccer Team

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Individual statistics such as who scored the goal, who passed for the assist, and who made the save are all substituted for a straightforward word.

Kindness.

That, along with many other heart-warming experiences, best sums up the beliefs of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School students and staff who make up this fall’s Unified Soccer Team.

"There is just plain kindness all around," claimed Rhonda Fishburn, the assistant coach on the team who is a Special Education Teacher at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. "These kids all care about each other."

These "kids" total 23 on a roster from the high school’s PE Partners, a Physical Education class where students with developmental disabilities are partnered with students without disabilities to form a sports team.

Bridgewater-Raritan High School also sponsors a Unified Basketball Team in the winter and a Unified Track Team in the spring.

On a sunny Thursday afternoon, Oct. 17, at the Municipal Soccer Field across the street from Basilone Memorial Field, Bridgewater-Raritan High School served as the host to the Unified Soccer Team from Delaware Valley Regional High School.

The match with Delaware Valley was the second game of the 2024 season. Bridgewater-Raritan opened on the road against Hillsborough High School on Oct. 11, and will again play Hillsborough on Oct. 24, at the Municipal Soccer Field. According to Bridgewater-Raritan’s head coach, Jessica Decker, a fourth game against either Chatham High School or Ridge High School is pending.

There was no scoreboard at the Municipal Soccer Field to record the goals in the game with Delaware Valley—-and no one on the field, sideline, or bleachers noticed.

"This game is not about scores," said Decker, an English and Special Education Teacher at the high school. "This is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet fellow Bridgewater-Raritan students and collaborate to become a team."

"These kids get along so well and encourage each other," Decker added.

Joshua Ahator, a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, agreed with his coach.

"I love it. This is about people meeting people and everyone enjoying playing soccer together," said Joshua, a team member in 2023 who revealed that "I wanted to play again after last year."

His teammate, fellow senior Mohamed Mostafa, is also a two-year veteran who was anxious to play another season.

"This is fun, and I get to play soccer," Mohammed said.

And more importantly, he reflected: "This is a chance to help other kids have fun. There is no difference between anyone on this team."

Harish Radha was an attentive spectator in the bleachers because his daughter, Emmie Radha, was having fun on the field.

"She loves it," said a very pleased father. "We got her enrolled in this program, and it is good exercise and a great form of social bonding with her peers at the high school."

Fishburn has noticed what that bonding has resulted in.

"They have built friendships. I watch them in the hallways at the high school," she said. "They all watch out for each other."

Fishburn was eager to share a story that supports her comment.

"One of our special needs students came to me and said that a teammate seemed upset during school and came to me to check on this fellow student. They care so much about each other."

If you are keeping score, kindness won the game.

Bridgewater-Raritan High 2024 School Unified Soccer Team Roster

• Joshua Ahator
• Hailey Bende
• Pranav Bhagirath
• Aisha Bhatti
• Haylie Billerman
• Avery Capan
• Alyssa Eschmann
• Charlotte Falcon
• Nick Lloyd
• Mohamed Mostafa
• Jayden Patel
• Alexis Perle
• Zia Picone
• Miley Stout
• Lucas Travisano
• Emmie Radha
• EJ Ramirez
• Sarah Rashid
• Miley Stout
• Lucas Travisano
• Rishi Thoppay
• Camilla Yakhtelska
• Arjun Yalamanchili

— BRRSD