Derby High School Unified Sports hosts annual Special Olympics CT Flag Football Tournament

~ theraiderpress
Photo by Anthony Mullen: The Derby High School Unified Sports team walks out on the field in unison during the opening ceremony.

By Emma Hyder ’25

On Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, the Derby High School Unified Sports team hosted Oxford High School’s Unified Sports team and Watertown High School’s Unified Sports team in the Annual Flag Football Tournament.


The incredible day kicked off with a ceremony, where both teams walked out onto the field holding our team banner as the anticipation rose to game time. Fredy Clorio 27’ had the honorary role of lighting the torch to let the games begin.

Photo by Anthony Mullen: Fredy Clorio ’27 lights the torch to let the games begin!

When asking paraeducator Anna Hustek what the classroom felt like with all the anticipation on the day of the game, she said, “The boys were amped, to say the least. The energy was building, and then they brought that energy out onto the field.” Our teams really played their hearts out, and there were some incredible plays to note. Bryce Orchano 25’ had a few long runs to take his team into the endzone. Orchano says, “It feels good to score and have fun with the other teams out there.”


Over the past four years here at Derby High School, the Unified Sports team has grown to be something inspiring. The numbers have sky-rocketed as people are finding that it’s such a supporting and fulfilling team to be a part of. Unified Sports Head Coach Carlin Ali exclaimed, “I’m really glad that we, as a team, have grown. There’s just over fifty kids signed up for Unified this year, which is huge being that in my first year, we only had about twenty.”
Unified Sports is more than just a club on Tuesdays during Advisory. It is a family where every school, every team, and every athlete feels supported by one another. This was very apparent during the Flag Football game. When looking around the field, you could see all three schools supporting each other, like one large team. It is truly something special that every school should foster.


As Hustek always says, “When you’re losing faith in humanity, go to a Unified Sports event.”

Photo by Anthony Mullen: The Derby “red” team snaps the ball and gives a quick handoff to get the ball moving toward the end zone.

The CIAC had a crew come out to the game and capture some of the inspiring unforgettable moments.

*See here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByyjUbgoMNs)