By BILL COLLMER, Hornell Sun Senior Sports Writer
When you hear the names of coaches Sara Belcher, Cole West, Monique McKenrick and Tom Hober, you think of the great sports teams they coached.
Right now, the four are ‘unified.’
And after speaking with them, it seems this experience is better than winning a state championship.
The Wayland-Cohocton and Dansville School Districts have teamed up for Unified Sports. Each sport has different rules. In Unified Basketball, the rules are that there must be three athletes and two partners on the court. Unified Partners are students without intellectual disabilities; Unified Athletes are students with intellectual disabilities.
Sara Belcher said, “Coaching Unified sports in unlike any other experience in high school athletics. It goes far beyond the game itself. For our partners, it teaches meaningful, lasting lessons about acceptance, inclusion, and celebrating differences. It also brings out strengths in them-leadership, empathy, and patience-that might not always surface in a traditional setting.”
This is Wayland-Cohocton’s second year with a Unified Basketball team, but it’s the first year they’re combining with Dansville. They practice two times a week for two hours each day. They also host open gym opportunities during the school year, once a month.
After forming a successful partnership in football, they have joined forces for Unified Basketball, Dansville-Wayland-Cohocton or DWC for short won their first game of the season over Wayne on the road on April 23, then defeated Genesee United on April 30, 34-29, to move to 2-0.
They play six games and then participate in the “Culminating Event” at Nazareth on May 20. The culminating event takes place at the conclusion of the six-game regular season schedule and is a championship style tournament where teams in their division compete against each other.
DWC Unified Basketball features Belcher and West on the Wayland-Cohocton side, and McKenrick and Hober from Dansville.
“For our athletes, Unified Sports provides something just as powerful, opportunity, confidence, and a true sense of belonging. There’s nothing quite like watching them step onto the court, feel supported and realize they are an essential part of the team,” Belcher added
Belcher has coached volleyball, cheerleading, and softball in the Way-Co district and in youth leagues for over 20 years but has now shifted her focus to Unified Bowling and Unified Basketball with the hope of continuing to grow those programs and possibly adding another Unified sport in the future.
“Unified sports lifts me up in a completely different way. It’s a powerful reminder that our differences are what make us stronger, and that success isn’t always measured on a scoreboard. It’s measured in smiles, in laughter, in encouragement, and in the connections built along the way,” Belcher said.
Following their season opening victory over Wayne, the entire DWC team were interviewed by Karen Iglesia from Primetime585 out of Rochester.
“They were absolutely elated and I’m sure they even felt like celebrities in the moment. you could see it in their faces that they weren’t just excited, they were proud. Moments like the Primtime585 interview and attention on social media posts, highlights how Unified sports is continuing to grow and gain recognition. I would love to see more schools in our area start teams because it reinforces a simple, but powerful idea that there’s a place for everyone and the opportunity to be part of something bigger together,” Belcher said.
In the post-game interview with Primetime585, DWC Junior guard Aiden Miller revealed that his nickname is “Cash Money.” His full name is Aiden Thomas Miller, so his initials are ‘ATM’ and he’s cash money on the court.
Miller, an Avoca native, is no stranger to the game of basketball; he’s spent most of his life attending games at Avoca and Prattsburgh. He cheered Avoca-Prattsburgh on from the stands during their boys back-to-back state championship runs in 2022 and 2023. He even served as a special guest PA announcer before several of their games.
He was also the manager of the varsity baseball team where they nicknamed him “Brother Bear.” Now Miller has the opportunity to play basketball, the game he loves.
“He is very excited to play the sport that he loves, every time he makes a basket, he gets a smile on his face from ear-to-ear all the way back down the court. He always says that he is like late NBA Legend Kobe Bryant or just like current Avoca-Prattsburgh junior guard J.J Crowder,” Aiden’s mother, Dawn Miller said.
Having the opportunity to watch him play basketball is something his mother never thought would happen.
“It is amazing to watch him play basketball; it’s something that he loves to do. It brings so much joy to me to be able to see him playing. He is very determined to do the best that he possibly can. Every time he makes a basket or even gets a shot off it brings a huge smile to my face to see him doing this,” Miller added.
“It has been a true blessing getting to know Aiden! He attends school at Wayland-Cohocton due to programming options at Avoca. We treat him as our own and he’s made all of our lives better just knowing him,” Belcher said.
“The atmosphere is something special. In what other sport do you see coaches, players, and even the crowd cheering just as loudly for the opposing team-for a basket, a great effort, or simply hustling down the court? it shifts the focus from competition alone to shared joy and respect. Of course, we all want to score baskets and win games, but in Unified sports, the real victory is how the team celebrates one another, supports each other, and grows together every step of the way,” Belcher said.
Monique McKenrick loves coaching the team and providing an opportunity to the DWC kids to play basketball.
“As a Special Education Teacher here at Dansville High School, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences to be a part in launching our first ever Unified Basketball Team! This program is so much more than getting them involved in athletics,” McKenrick said. “It has created an opportunity for students of all abilities to come together, build relationships, and truly feel like they belong. Watching our team celebrate each other and witnessing that sense of inclusion is something so incredibly powerful to me. I do not come from a formal coaching background but have lots of experience volunteering with and attending my own children’s sporting events.”
McKenrick herself has already learned a few things while coaching the Unified Basketball team.
“What I have learned though, is that coaching this team is not about having all the technical knowledge, it’s more about encouragement, patience, and really believing in every single player on the court. This team has made that so easy. As a teacher, there is nothing more exciting than watching your students succeed; especially in ways that go beyond the classroom. Merging with Wayland-Cohocton has been a great experience in that I get to build relationships with other students as well. I feel so incredibly lucky to be a part of this Journey with our team, and we hope to continue to grow this upcoming season and for years to come!” McKendrick added.
Coach Cole West loves teaching the athletes and partners the game of Basketball
“It is immensely rewarding to see my players, both partners and athletes, grow and thrive on the court and as people. Watching them play and get better as basketball players is a unique experience that I would highly recommend to anybody. Watching these kids, who outside of the program may never have met, grow as teammates and friends is one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had as a coach and educator,” West said.
Section Five has had Unified Basketball since 2013, there are currently 35 Varsity teams and 6 Modified teams, and they hope to continue to grow.
“Giving them this opportunity has been incredibly rewarding. It’s too bad that students with disabilities have not been able to participate in school sponsored sports in the past because of their diagnoses. These students are abundantly capable of anything they set their minds to, with competition through sports just scratching the surface of their abilities. Watching them come out of their shells as both athletes and individuals has been a privilege to witness, and I look forward to many more years of Unified sports at Wayland-Cohocton, Dansville, and the surrounding districts,” West added.
Matt Groot is the Section V coordinator for Unified Sports. Groot started his career teaching special education and coaching scholastic Basketball at Newark. He heard about Unified sports and was able to bring it to Newark and coach teams there. He had so much fun with it, a role of social media coordinator opened up for Section Five. Groot worked closely with Hall of Fame Coach Denny Fries as the Sports Coordinator. When Fries retired, Groot took over as Unified Sports Coordinator.
“It’s one of the most rewarding experiences that I can have in athletics. Many people take for granted the opportunity to play and be involved in sports. However, its puts into perspective to see the pure joy on athletes, parents, coaches and teachers faces when they get to see the appreciation that athletes have for the opportunity to play a sport with their peers,” Groot said.
Groot added, “The value of putting on a school uniform and being a valued member of the school community, on and off the court is truly remarkable. You are able to see the athletes grow in confidence among their peers. Unified Sports also teaches the core lessons and values that we all love about sports with sportsmanship, success, learning to win, learning to lose, being a part of a team, helping others, team dinners, and all that comes from being part of team.”
Belcher has been the driving force behind Unified Sports at Wayland-Cohocton, and her efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by her co-workers.
“I want to give my utmost respect to Sara Belcher, who spearheaded the establishment of Unified Sports at Wayland-Cohocton and continues to exemplify and embody our values every day. Without her guidance and determination, Unified Sports would be years away from being a program in our district. I also want to thank the families of our athletes, and our community who continue to show profound support for what we are doing here at Wayland-Cohocton and Dansville,” West said.
Tom Hober has been a coach in the Dansville school district for over 20 years and has been a boys’ basketball official for over 25 years. He officiated Unified games the past couple of years, so he got a taste of how much fun it is and how awesome it was for the school communities.
“The Unified team is a blast. I’ve coached sports for 26 years and might have gotten thanked by parents a handful of times. In my time coaching Unified Basketball this year I get thanked every day. You definitely get a whole new appreciation. It was a great opportunity for me. The way the world is now it is easy to get down on the way things are, but working with our team always makes you laugh and leave you with a smile,” Hober said.
Bath hosted Wayland-Cohocton last season during the day and the whole student body was there. The place was packed and the kids had a blast. Way-Co even brought a spectator bus full of fans. Hober said it’s one of the top games he’s officiated over the years.
“The other unique aspect of Unified Sports is the partners that volunteer with our players. They are mostly our athletes in other sports and they do a great job working with our kids. They have made friendships with them that have extended off the court and, in the classrooms,” Hober added.
In December of 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball. Many people have said over the years that basketball is “Just a game” While technically a contest of shooting a ball through a hoop, it acts as a cultural, social, and physical outlet that teaches discipline, camaraderie, and life lessons in teamwork, resilience, and leadership.
For the DWC coaching staff, basketball is more than a game, they’re using the game of Basketball as a tool, to teach their athletes and partners important life lessons while simultaneously teaching parents, fans and the communities of Wayland-Cohocton and Dansville important life lessons as well.
For the DWC athletes and partners like Aiden Miller and his teammates, basketball is much more than a game, for them playing on a Basketball team is a dream come true.
A few links for more on local Unified athletics and the state programs:
Unified Champion Schools Overview Packet (Interscholastic).PDF – Google Drive
Unified video.wmv – Google Drive
