NATICK — The MIAA Unified Track & Field state championship at Natick High School on Wednesday was a shining example of how unified sports is growing across Massachusetts.
In 2022, a little over 30 schools competed at the state championship. This year, 58 schools had athletes compete in the event.
Wahconah, Palmer, Chicopee, Westfield, Holyoke, Mount Greylock and Chicopee Comp represented Western Massachusetts at the meet.
The Warriors put together another stand-out performance, placing second in Division I as a team with 100 points. Natick placed first with 259 points.
Palmer led the way for Western Mass. in Division II, placing 11th with 44.5 points. Chicopee took 13th with 42 points and Westfield tied for 14th with 41 points. Southwick placed 23rd with 24 points, Holyoke in 27th with 20 points, Mount Greylock tied for 28th with 18 and Chicopee Comp placed 35th with six points.
Wahconah placed seventh as a team at last year’s championship, but a couple more podium finishes this year pushed the Warriors all the way up to second place in Div. I.
Wahconah coach Jared Shannon is proud of how much the team has grown in just the last year.
“This is the best thing our school does,” Shannon said. “It is (the) best thing we do in high school sports in Massachusetts. I couldn’t be more proud. These kids work hard. It is a sport that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. … these kids are excited and proud.”
The Warriors’ Jaxxon Hand placed first in the long jump for his tier on Wednesday.
This year is the first time the seventh grader has competed in unified track. Initially, he was nervous about the long jump, but once he stepped up to the track, he felt ready to go.
“When I saw the first people go, I thought if I gave it my all, I could do it,” Hand said.
Colton Jennings was another first-place finisher for Wahconah, taking the top spot in the 800-meter run.
Palmer’s Nate Childs also earned a first-place finish in his tier of the 100-meter dash to give the Panthers 10 points.
Mount Greylock has had a unified track program for two years, but this spring marked the first time the program has ever competed in the state championship.
The Mounties also have a unified basketball team, and some of the team’s coaches also help with the track program.
“It’s fun to see them in a different environment,” Mount Greylock coach Kamlyn Hass said.
Holyoke also has a unified basketball team. Purple Knights unified track & field coach Andrea Lubold coaches both teams and is happy to see that more schools across the state are supporting unified athletics.
“It’s getting to where it should be,” Lubold said. “It should be further. This is a varsity sport that needs to be recognized. All schools that have unified treat it that way. We want to continue to grow it, validate it and give these athletes what they deserve.”
During the relays, athletes lined the track and cheered on all competitors, whether or not they were from the same part of the state or school.
In addition to good competition, having a big, yearly meet like the state championship also serves as a way for athletes and coaches to meet new people.
“A lot of kids just walk up and introduce themselves,” Westfield coach Lisa Stawasz said. “But it is nice to see people we have seen in the past as well. It’s like a reunion. It’s really nice.”