Unified Sports Finale Hosted By Ocean City, Cedar Creek High Schools

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City School District (OCSD) Unified Sports basketball team is hosting its first-ever season finale game on Feb. 29, joined by the Cedar Creek High School Unified team, the district announced in a news release.

Made up of about 12 special education high school students from the Life Skills and Work Based Learning classes, the Special Olympics global initiative has been a positive experience, according to the district. District officials are excited to close out the season by showcasing the continuous outpouring of support from staff, student athletes and volunteers.

The game is set for Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. in the Ocean City High School gymnasium.

“Bringing Unified Sports to OCSD has been an incredibly positive experience. Watching how far the program has already come in just a few months with the support of our volunteers, players and community members, it’s so rewarding to be part of,” said OCSD Interim Superintendent Terrence Crowley. “Our district does such a great job supporting our athletes, performing arts and clubs already, so I know this game is going to have a great turnout.”

“We want this season finale to be big, from the posters seen throughout the building to handmade signs and airhorns in the stands,” said Jessica DeBiaso, an Ocean City High School (OCHS) special education teacher and coordinator of the W.A.V.E.S. program. “When we’re excited on the sidelines and in the stands, it gives the players an even bigger sense of excitement. Bringing our community together for an event such as this really makes all the difference.”

Cedar Creek High School Unified team will join forces with the Ocean City Unified team to play against Egg Harbor Township Unified. All family, friends and community members are invited to cheer on the players from OCSD, Cedar Creek and Egg Harbor Township Unified.

The Ocean City Unified Sports Basketball Team participated in their first game of the season on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at Mainland Regional High School. Along with Egg Harbor Township and Mainland Regional, the district also competes with other unified teams from Cedar Creek High School and the Cape May County Special Services/Cape May Technical High School.

Student volunteers from other athletics teams are referred to as “buddies” and participate in a variety of ways from playing in the game and coaching to cheering on the teams.

Ocean City Unified coaches Jessica DeBiaso and Stephanie Hurless started the program at OCSD in Sept. 2023 and plan to continue it for many years to come.

Established in 1989, Unified Sports is a Special Olympics program designed to give students with and without intellectual disabilities the opportunity to play on the same team while promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. This global initiative was inspired by a simple principle, “training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.”