Wolfpack Unites with Special Olympics

On Saturday April 23, the 2016 Special Olympics were held on the courts in Carmichael gym. This particular afternoon, the NC State and UNCW teams balled it out in 5-on-5 basketball.

However, this wasn’t the typical special olympic basketball game. The teams are in a league called “Unified” meaning that the teams are half special needs participants, half college student participants.

Joseph Glenn, the NC State Unified Special Olympics sports director, said that the event is “a great way for students to get involved in volunteering with an organization that many people don’t know is on campus; the athletes love having teammates who are college-aged and it’s a great way to spread awareness.”

The NC State team won the championship a few months ago in competition against other NC State teams within their league.

Morgan Brown, a freshman at NC State, volunteered with the special olympics all throughout high school before joining a unified team on campus. “It has been really fun to actually play on a unified team; normally I just help out,” Brown said, “I definitely see myself continuing to be involved in the future.”

Coaches and parents of the participants cheered and applauded as they dribbled up and down the court, glowing with energy and excitement.