The sound of clapping hands and booming voices-all cheering for you-is an experience that most never forget. At Pennridge High School, unified athletes, students with intellectual or physical disabilities, and unified partners, students without disabilities, collaborate with teachers and specialists to build sports teams each year that the community admires. But for these students, this feeling of pride comes from a much deeper source. The Coed Varsity Unified Bocce team and the Coed Varsity Unified Track and Field team share the same goals regarding their athletes. To help them grow cognitively, form friendships, build confidence, and prepare them for their next chapter in life. The bocce team conquered the 2023 Interscholastic Unified Bocce Regional Championship against Garnet Valley on March 21. Of the green and white teams, each consisting of eight players, the white team advanced to the state tournament. Similarly, the track and field team placed fourth in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association State Track and Field Championships in 2025. These wins weren’t just milestones, but representations of the dedication and effort that takes place behind the scenes. However, just because they’ve succeeded doesn’t mean they’ve made these accomplishments without difficulty. The secret lies in the coaching, preparation, and patience.
When asked about player expectations, Angela James, the high school’s unified bocce coach, replied, “You need to communicate if you aren’t going to be there for practice. Partners and athletes. It’s about developing that independence.” Her experience as a high school athlete and coaching junior varsity sports paved her way for developing effective methods that benefit her students on and off the court. James explained, “I have to work hard to focus on simple skills to stay in a lane. Time and repetition are crucial.” One of the few challenges she’s had to overcome during the sports seasons is “Making sure the athletes can do what they need to sleep over places without parents.” Her key focus on players coming into their own has been crucial for turning them into lifelong athletes. But for the majority of students, this program has been an outlet for more than athleticism. Small acts like partners taking athletes to dinner before events has given them the opportunity to branch out and let loose. “Athletes have become more sociable in the halls because they have more friends to recognize and say hi to,” James said.
In the inevitable case of a team loss, it never disrupts the mottos of positivity, with celebrations regardless of the outcomes. In addition to these sports, Pennridge High School has a Unified Physical Education class available to all students. The course modifies physical activity for students with disabilities and allows them to collaborate with students who receive general education services. The Pennridge Unified Sports program, which started in 2019, is a part of the more general Unified Sports program run by the Special Olympics. It works to help people affected by intellectual disabilities live more rewarding lives and creates positive venues for families and volunteers to initiate involvement. Pennridge is identified as one of the National Banner Unified Champion Schools, a title that has been proudly displayed since 2020.
