Unified Basketball comes to Dedham
By Ally LaBrecque
October 26, 2022
The Dedham co-ed Unified Basketball team played their first game on October 7th, competing against Bellingham in a gym filled with fall athletes cheering them on.
Unified Basketball is new to Dedham this year, though other schools in the Tri-Valley league participated last year.
The program joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability.
The first game was close, but Bellingham was able to hold on their lead throughout, winning 47-44.
The Dedham team went up against Ashland on October 17th, with a final score of 33-20.
Tonight is "Senior Night." Seniors Michael Ho and Shiri Lipschitz will be honored.
The team has practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30pm in the gym and is open to anyone not playing a fall sport. The coaches are Mr. Iozzo and Mr. Geary.
Team roster:
Isabella Annatone
Madeline Baldwin
Anthony Barletta
Lily Burton
Sophia Coleman
Michael Ho
Shiri Lipschitz
Wens Molin
Luke Ryan
Peter Tittler
Meet the Writer!
Ally LaBrecque, Class of 2023, is a second-year reporter for the Dedham Mirror. She plays 3 sports for the Dedham Marauders. When she's not competing, Ally enjoys traveling and hanging out with friends.