DHS Tigers' Teams 'Unified' by Hoops and Hope

The program empowers athletes, coaches, partners, and fans to celebrate the joy of competition.

The Tigers applied full-court defensive pressure against Pequannock High School.

Photos by Anthony Rodriguez

Jacob Jaramillo Moncada is a Dover High School baller.

“My favorite things are being able to play in the games and practice to further improve my shooting and enjoy the sport,” he says. “And having the national anthem sung before the basketball game.”

Jacob is a baller with perspective. He plays on the DHS Tigers Unified squad, a Special Olympics program inspired by a simple principle: training and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding, and is dedicated to promoting social acceptance through shared sports training and competition experiences. Participants fit into two categories:

• Athlete: A player with an intellectual/physical disability who competes on a Unified team.

Athletes are coached and compete in rules-based play, focusing on skill development, teamwork, and inclusion.

• Partner: A player without an intellectual/physical disability who plays alongside athletes on the same Unified team. Partners support, model skills and sportsmanship, and help create a balanced, competitive, and inclusive experience.

Coach Chris Schul offers encouragement and gets the squad ready to enter the game.

Jacob and his teammates are led by head coach Chris Schul, a DHS math teacher. Coach Schul is a full-throated Unified advocate.

“This is, without question, the most fulfilling and greatest experience I have had in my 30 years in education,” he says. “It is an honor to work with each one of the athletes and their partners.” 

Jacob and his peers share many of the same sentiments.

“I joined the team with the help of the school teachers, Mrs. Caffrey and Mr. Gregorio,” Jacob says. “It means a lot to me because we are having a fun time and taking a break from the day. It helped make me more confident.”

That confidence grew when Jacob scored the first basket against Pequannock, then hustled back on defense to stop the Golden Panthers’ fastbreak.

DHS senior Abigail Vega says she’s as thrilled to be a Unified partner off-the-court as she is in competition. “Becoming a partner has changed me as a person, and what my school day looks like,” she says. “Walking around the hallways at school, I’m constantly saying ‘Hi’ to the athletes on my Unified team. Each day I do, it places a big smile on my face to see them be so happy. Seeing them come ready to play and asking me if we have a game makes me feel so joyful and lets me look forward to something. Playing with them has honestly allowed me to become a happier, more understanding, and patient person.”  

Nick Gregorio played defensive tackle at Montclair State University, coached college football, and was proud to lead the Dover High School squad for five seasons. But the Transition and Unified Sports Coordinator for the Dover Special Education Department is especially proud of the DHS Unified athletes, partners, and coaches.

“It’s an incredibly positive environment,” Gregorio says. “The athletes get to compete, build confidence, and develop a sense of teamwork and camaraderie with their fellow athletes and partners. And they get to wear the Dover tiger and hear the cheers of families, friends, and the cheerleaders.”

“My favorite memory throughout my experience in the Unified program is without a doubt

connecting with the athletes,” says Estuardo Calderon Alvarez, a DHS senior and partner. “Some athletes need more help getting comfortable. I understand and know that some are extremely shy. I am a very social person. I find it easy to talk to people, and I know how to put them at ease. I noticed that one athlete was particularly shy and did not participate as much, so I began talking to her. We became really close, and to this day she feels very comfortable with me. She is really shy, so she did not want to walk out for the pep rally, but when we asked her if she would go if I walked by her side, she instantly agreed. Overall, this has been the highlight of my school year. I really enjoyed this program, and I wish I were part of it way earlier.”

The DHS Unified program is always ready for action in basketball, soccer, and flag football.

ATHLETES

• Samuel Agudelo Henao (Soph.)

• Odaly Argueta Rodriguez (Sr.)

• Christopher Cardenas (Jr.)

• Samara Downing (Sr.)

• Valeria Erazo Montoya (Sr.)

• Jacob Jaramillo Moncada (Sr.)

• Shayan Samarasinghe (Jr.)

• Hacendy Cliffdarly Thermeus (Fr.)

• Darwin Velasquez Mendez (Soph.)

PARTNERS

• Estaurdo Calderon Alvarez (Sr.)

• Brandon DeLeon (Sr.)

• Rachela Dong (Sr.)

• Sofia Garcia (Jr.)

• Mariana Gomez Restrepo (Jr.)

• Justin Hernandez (Sr.)

• Ryan Lombardi (Sr.)

• Ismael Davion Lopez Martinez (Sr.)

• Jason Maya Mendoza (Jr.)

• Johari McKay (Sr.)

• Sophia Mesa Ramos (Sr.)

• Anderson Pineda (Sr.)

• Yunel Rosales (Jr.)

• Ashley Vasquez Cabrera (Sr.)

• Abigail Vega (Sr.)

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Christopher Schul

Assistant Coaches: Craig Hill, Michael Liddy

Transition Coordinator: Nick Gregorio

Special Thanks to:

Robyn Gustin and the DHS Cheerleaders

Michaeanglo Costanzo: The DHS Tiger

Michaela Cedeño: National Anthem vocalist

The layup line gave DHS athletes and partners the chance to warm up together before the game.

“It means a lot,” says partner Anderson Pineda, a DHS senior. “Being able to allow the athletes to play the sports we all love and enjoy and seeing them have fun brings a sense of joy to me.  It changed how I think about sports when I play them myself.”

Pineda has a special memory of the Unified hoops experience. “A great moment from my experience is definitely when an athlete, Samuel Agudelo Henao, scored a three-pointer during practice.”

For Sophia Mesa Ramos, a senior partner, one epic game will always stand out.

“One fun moment from my experience was when we played a soccer match against the DHS faculty,” she says. “Some of them had no experience with soccer, which just made the game really funny and memorable. It reminded me that sometimes just being involved is what makes a difference and makes this experience the most fun.”

The DHS Cheer squad kept the energy high during the Tigers' game against Pequannock High School.

In addition to basketball, the DHS Unified program features soccer in the fall and flag football in the spring. A grant from the New York Jets helps support the team.

Stay tuned to DoverNow.com for more Unified Sports coverage. But you know what would be even better? Get the Tigers’ Unified schedule, call friends and family, and then turn out to support these committed athletes, partners, and coaches as they pursue what they love.