Page 9 - 2024-25 Unified Flag Football State Finals Program

Tournament Results Champions Together Initiative

This exceptional program started in 2012 when former IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox challenged
Regional Semi-Finals Regional Championship State Finals the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee (S.A.C.) to find an organization to partner with to build and
October 12, 2024 October 12, 2024 October 19, 2024 maintain a legacy of servant leadership. The S.A.C. set out to find a not-for-profit organization that
would be dedicated to supporting this goal. Eventually, the S.A.C. unanimously recommended that a
partnership be formed between the IHSAA and Special Olympics Indiana (SOIN) based on a “mutual
love of sports”. The IHSAA Executive Committee supported that recommendation and the Champions
Together partnership was born and introduced to the IHSAA membership with the philosophy,
DeKalb 36 “Servant Leadership, Changing Lives”.
Champions Together has experienced exceptional growth since its inception. This initiative started
with 13 schools participating in Unified Sports® in the inaugural Unified Track and Field State
Tournament in 2013. Now retired Champions Together Director, Lee Lonzo, traveled across the state
South Bend DeKalb 30 with Special Olympics Advocates Mitch Bonar and Andrew Peterson spreading the ideas of inclusion,
Adams acceptance and respect to school leaders and student bodies.
Unified Flag Football launched in 2018 and has grown from 25 schools participating in the inaugural
S. Bend Adams 26 State Tournament to 46 schools in 2023. Through the efforts of countless dedicated and selfless
Carroll (Fort Wayne) individuals throughout the state, the unified movement will continue to grow and change the lives of
South Bend Adams student-athletes, student-partners, coaches, parents, and entire communities. The relationship
Carroll (FW) 35 between the IHSAA and SOIN remains strong and SOIN assists the IHSAA in running their
tournaments by providing technical support in implementing Unified Sports based on more than 20
years of experience. They have also provided financial grants to schools who start Unified Sports
programs, paid all costs of IHSAA Unified Sports Tournaments, and organized more than 260 school
assemblies, either in-person or virtually, promoting respect and inclusion. SOIN also sponsors two
South Bend Carroll (FW) 34 high school state championships in Unified Bocce (8th annual) and Unified Bowling (5th annual),
Adams providing competitive opportunities for students with and without intellectual disabilities. Unified
eSports and Unified Robotics have emerged out of the pandemic as two new options for SOIN
sponsored championships.
Twin Lakes 6
Grand Park Champions Together is more than just Unified Sports. Champions Together programs promote
acceptance, tolerance, a sense of community, school pride, comfort, belonging, healing and
sometimes even therapy for some. Champions Together positively changes the culture in schools,
Franklin Central 53 helps increase graduation and attendance rates, and helps form life-long friendships that otherwise
might not have been created.
Franklin Central 24 Be part of the #InclusionRevolution and #PlayUnified! Thank you for your continued support of
Mooresville Champions Together!

Bedford N Law. 38 Brian Avery – Director of Champions Together
Mooresville Carmel
Southport 28

Carmel 28
Mooresville

Carmel 32

8 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. Pure INDIANA! IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport. Pure INDIANA! 9