We are all better for it when everyone is there, which is exactly what the Unified Sports program is all about.

Thanks to the program, and the people that make it work, Thompson Falls student-athletes Brooke Flemmer and Madisun Rassmussen weren’t just there, they were a big part of it, valued team members of the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk track and field squad at the State B meet at MCPS stadium in Missoula May 28-30.

Brooke and Madisun, joined by Unified team partners Matea Keefe and Aubree Cribbs, also shared honors for first place in a special running of the 4x100 meter relay with a team from Manhattan Christian during the Western B divisional meet, also in Missoula May 22.

Both Unified relay teams of Blue Hawks and Eagles were honored with a medal ceremony in front of the crowd on the podium in between events on the track, just like all the winners of the other events were honored during the Western B and C meets.

The experience was a success for all involved, to Hawk coach Trenna Ferris and Hawk Unified coach Chris Hart in particular. “Our Unified team competed and represented our school very well at the State B meet,” Ferris said. “They did a great job. We are very proud of Madisun and Brooke, and their partners Aubree and Matea!”

Hart, who has specialized in special education in this part of western Montana for the better part of ten years, appreciates how welcome, and included, the rest of the team makes Madisun and Brooke feel.

“They are awesome,” he said of those Hawks at large. “We practice together every day like teammates do. They encourage each other, are accepted, part of the team in every respect.”

The national Special Olympics Unified Sports program “empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports,” according to the mission statement of the organization, and the concept certainly seems to be working well with the Thompson Falls track and field team.

Hart said he has just completed his second year of Unified coaching in Thompson Falls and that the program, which has been in place in Thompson Falls for the past three years, has been well received, in large part thanks to cooperators like Ferris, the other Blue Hawk coaches, and other teams’ athletes and coaches.

Hart is a homegrown hero of sorts. After graduating from TFHS in 2012 and a stint in the armed service, he got his first job in the special education field as an emergency hire in Trout Creek in 2017, went on to work at similar positions in Noxon and Thompson Falls before eventually earning his required accreditation through a combination of University of Montana and online course classes.

Crediting long-time Thompson Falls teacher Amy Laws with encouraging him to pursue this line of work, which he obviously has a talent for, Hart said he spent three years on a Sanders County special education cooperative task force of sorts which served all six schools in the county, before getting his current teaching position in Thompson Falls.

The Unified Sports program in Thompson Falls has turned into a pleasant part of his educational curriculum along the way. Hart said the Unified program is specific to high school sports right now but that other avenues for the empowerment of those with or without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports are being explored.

Continuing with the organization’s mission statement, the goal is to “encourage those with or without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports,” it states. “Giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”

It is true, we are all better for it when everyone is there. Thanks to the Brooke and Madisun and the Unified Sports program for reminding everyone of that.

Thanks to the program, and the people that make it work, Thompson Falls student-athletes Brooke Flemmer and Madisun Rassmussen weren’t just there, they were a big part of it, valued team members of the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk track and field squad at the State B meet at MCPS stadium in Missoula May 28-30.

Brooke and Madisun, joined by Unified team partners Matea Keefe and Aubree Cribbs, also shared honors for first place in a special running of the 4x100 meter relay with a team from Manhattan Christian during the Western B divisional meet, also in Missoula May 22.

Both Unified relay teams of Blue Hawks and Eagles were honored with a medal ceremony in front of the crowd on the podium in between events on the track, just like all the winners of the other events were honored during the Western B and C meets.

The experience was a success for all involved, to Hawk coach Trenna Ferris and Hawk Unified coach Chris Hart in particular. “Our Unified team competed and represented our school very well at the State B meet,” Ferris said. “They did a great job. We are very proud of Madisun and Brooke, and their partners Aubree and Matea!”

Hart, who has specialized in special education in this part of western Montana for the better part of ten years, appreciates how welcome, and included, the rest of the team makes Madisun and Brooke feel.

“They are awesome,” he said of those Hawks at large. “We practice together every day like teammates do. They encourage each other, are accepted, part of the team in every respect.”

The national Special Olympics Unified Sports program “empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports,” according to the mission statement of the organization, and the concept certainly seems to be working well with the Thompson Falls track and field team.

Hart said he has just completed his second year of Unified coaching in Thompson Falls and that the program, which has been in place in Thompson Falls for the past three years, has been well received, in large part thanks to cooperators like Ferris, the other Blue Hawk coaches, and other teams’ athletes and coaches.

Hart is a homegrown hero of sorts. After graduating from TFHS in 2012 and a stint in the armed service, he got his first job in the special education field as an emergency hire in Trout Creek in 2017, went on to work at similar positions in Noxon and Thompson Falls before eventually earning his required accreditation through a combination of University of Montana and online course classes.

Crediting long-time Thompson Falls teacher Amy Laws with encouraging him to pursue this line of work, which he obviously has a talent for, Hart said he spent three years on a Sanders County special education cooperative task force of sorts which served all six schools in the county, before getting his current teaching position in Thompson Falls.

The Unified Sports program in Thompson Falls has turned into a pleasant part of his educational curriculum along the way. Hart said the Unified program is specific to high school sports right now but that other avenues for the empowerment of those with or without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports are being explored.

Continuing with the organization’s mission statement, the goal is to “encourage those with or without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports,” it states. “Giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”

It is true, we are all better for it when everyone is there. Thanks to the Brooke and Madisun and the Unified Sports program for reminding everyone of that.

    RUNNING BLUE HAWK Brooke Flemmer speeds away from Unified team partner Aubree Cribbs after the baton exchange during 4x100 meter relay action at the combined Western B/Western C divisional track and field meet in Missoula May 22. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)