Page 7 - 2020-21 Unified Flag Football State Finals Program

Carroll (FW) Chargers Champions Together Initiative

Dk. Lt. Name The cancellation of the IHSAA’s 2020 spring season was a major disappointment for so many
4 4 Ashlyn Lingg of us. Seniors lost their final season to represent their schools or show off their skills in search of a college
5 5 Jayden Johanningsmeier scholarship. Coaches ending long careers who lost that one last season. Teams and individuals looking
7 7 Lewis Miller forward to spring because THAT would be the year for a real run at a state championship. Thousands of
10 10 Hayden Klaehn memories and friendships lost.
11 11 Gavin Watkins
12 12 Casey Bane But no group was more disappointed than those participating in IHSAA Unified Sports® -- athletes,
13 13 Logan Smith partners, coaches, parents and fans alike. For many of the athletes, Unified Sports has provided their first
14 14 Jacob Reynolds opportunity to participate in organized sports – to represent their schools and communities and learn those
16 16 Faith Swert life lessons that come from participation in education-based sports: teamwork and life-long friendships;
18 18 Zander Sauder learning the value of setting goals, working hard, and following rules; rejoicing in the thrills of victory and
20 20 Andrew Macon agonies of defeat.
24 24 Joel Ledger
32 32 Brent Amburgey Meanwhile, coaches, officials and student athlete partners lost their opportunity to celebrate what many of
33 33 Griffen Ford them call a profoundly life-changing experience that embraces a truly inclusive philosophy.
34 34 Andrew Magda
35 35 Addison Miracle After six years, Unified Sports and Champions Together is recognized as a powerful tool for principals
37 37 Bradly Klotz around the state who seek to change the culture of their school to reflect that inclusivity. Record registra-
Front Row (left to right): VINCENT BANE (ASST COACH), KEVIN DEATRICK 38 38 Corbin Wilson tions for both last spring’s Unified Track and Field and this fall’s Unified Flag Football were indicative of
(ASST COACH), RYLAN LOCHMUELLER ( PROJECT COODINATOR), HARRISON their commitment.
BROWN (JR. COACH), ALAN BODENSTEIN(HEAD COACH), DANI WILSON(ASST 42 42 Desiree Swert
COACH); 2nd Row: CORBIN WILSON, ZANDER SAUDER, HAYDEN KLAEN, 43 43 Matthew Neu
COLT STOCKERT, AUBREY SWAIN, LEWIS MILLER, BRIDGET BANE MGR,
REBECCA REYNOLDS MGR; 3rd Row: GRIFFEN FORD, ELLIOT FORD, AJ MA- 51 51 Trace Gallo And then, along with so many other things, the pandemic pre-empted nearly one-third of the entire IHSAA
CON, DESIREE SWERT, CASEY BANE, JOEL LEDGER, FAITH SWERT, ASHLYN membership (140 teams!) from participating in Unified Track and Field. As we tenuously entered the fall,
LINGG, JACOB REYNOLDS; Back Row: BRENT AMBURGEY, ANDREW MAGDA,
BRADLY KLOTZ, ADDISON MIRICLE, MATTHEW NEU, LOGAN SMITH, JAYDEN Head Coach - Alan Bodenstein the original field of 52 Unified Flag Football teams dropped to 32.
JOHANNINGSMEIER, ARI SEGOVIA, TRACE GALLO
Assistant Coaches - Vinny Bane, Kevin Nonetheless, the “inclusion revolution” marches on.
Deatrick, Tim Hoot, Dani Wilson
McCutcheon Mavericks We are all navigating a “new normal.” We’ve modified schedules as well as practice and game protocols;
we mask up and social distance with a bit of uncertainty, not exactly knowing what tomorrow will bring. But
one thing is certain: Our IHSAA student athletes, schools and communities have gained so much more
Dk. Lt. Name than they ever imagined when they began participating in the Champions Together program. In these un-
certain times, the lessons learned are comforting. Participating in Unified Sports is bigger than winning and
1 1 Zachary Branz losing. Student athlete partners realize that they are not participating FOR those with intellectual disabili-
2 2 Abigail Hornor ties, which implies pity, but rather participating WITH them, implying an attitude of respect and friendship.
3 3 Zachary Barbour
4 4 Jenna Lawson Upon reflecting on the many accomplishments of his nine-year tenure at the helm of the IHSAA, retiring
6 6 Brody Zimmer Commissioner Bobby Cox noted that the sanctioning of Unified Sports was the accomplishment that made
7 7 Eli Swank him most proud. We believe everyone involved in Unified Sports would agree.
8 8 Marya Farrell
9 9 Cheyenne Myers And we’ve never been more committed to the #InclusionRevolution. #PlayUnified!
10 10 Lexani Ozuna
11 11 Emme Hamilton Lee Lonzo – Champions Together Director
12 12 Tyson Lerma
13 13 Charlie Nartowicz
14 14 Jawan Green
19 19 Kaylee Rosenbarger
21 21 Kennedy Peckinpaugh
23 23 John Henry Johnson
24 24 Kaleigh Singer
Front Row (left to right): Cheyenne Myers, Emme Hamilton, Jenna Lawson, Tori
Casas, Kaleigh Singer, Lexani Ozuna, Marya Farrell, Abigail Hornor, Asst Coach Gina 25 25 Ethan Shackelford
Bunch; Back Row: Head Coach Cory Rush, Asst Coach Patrick Muldoon, Jawan 30 30 JJ Mallett
Green, Ethan Shackelford, John Henry Johnson, Zachary Branz, Zachary Barbour,
JJ Mallett, Eli Swank, Payton Fulk, Drew Loy; Not Pictured: Tyson Lerma, Charlie 40 40 Tori Casas
Nartowicz, Kaylee Rosenbarger, Kennedy Peckinpaugh, Brody Zimmer Payton Fulk
Drew Loy
Coaches - Cory Rush, Gina Bunch,
Patrick Muldoon
6 #FaceOfSportsmanship #IHSAA #FaceOfSportsmanship #IHSAA 7