Elementary school game makes history, brings community together

More than 300 people found themselves in Warwick Veterans Memorial Middle School Gym this past Thursday to watch a first-of-its-kind event.

Hoxsie Elementary School and Park Elementary School, with principals Gary McCoombs of Hoxsie and Daniel Sylvestre of Park coaching their respective teams, played the first Unified Basketball game at the elementary school level throughout the state.

McCoombs and Sylvestre would suit up themselves in the nightcap, which featured a team of Warwick Public Schools’ administration against Vets’ Unified Basketball team.

“It was an amazing experience,” McCoombs said. “Everything from the DJ to the excitement, Dan putting it together at Park, my Hoxsie Hawks, it was just a great atmosphere. It was a great start for unified sports, and it’s only going to grow bigger from here.”

The two teams have been practicing since January, learning the fundamentals of basketball and the tenets of Unified Basketball, which aims to unify students with intellectual disabilities and students without them.

Still, the two principals said that walking into Vets’ gym and seeing the crowd cheering them on was something that made the event really special for their teams.

“I was amazed at how many people showed up,” Sylvestre said. “They were all really into it, so excited… it resonates out into the community and it just kind of trickles.”

The two principals also gave credit to a DJ working throughout the game, as well as mascots for both the Hoxsie Hawks and Park Eagles, for making the environment special for the students.

Seeing the teams at the elementary level develop was special for more than just McCoombs and Sylvestre, though. Brigitte Desomma and Lindsey Guglietta, Vets’ Unified Basketball coaches, said that watching Hoxsie and Park make history was an incredible experience.

Throughout the creation of Hoxsie and Park’s teams, Vets has served as role models and an inspiration for the elementary schools, something that Vets’ coaches said their team loved.

“It’s been a real great motivator for our kids,” Guglietta said.

McCoombs said that both Hoxsie and Park’s teams were invited to Vets’ game against Winman last Tuesday, which he said was a great atmosphere to get the kids excited for their own game.

Both Desomma and Guglietta were impressed with the crowd the elementary schools brought as well.

“I was not expecting the crowd today- that was really cool,” Desomma said. “What’s really cool about that is that it’s already starting so young- so when they come here, that inclusion piece is already ingrained.”

While the game already was going to have a historic impact on the Warwick community, nobody expected the week that Vets would have. On St. Patrick’s Day, principal Jeff Goss was arrested and charged with a DUI by the Tiverton Police Department. Earlier that day, the school was under lockdown following a nearby shooting that claimed the life of a four-year-old.

Thus, the game had a special meaning for the school it took place in as well, helping unify a community that had been through a lot together.

“Even if you can take your mind off such a tragedy for an hour, it gives the community a little bit of relief from what we’ve been through,” McCoombs said. “Warwick rallies, we always do, this is a great community… we always support each other here.”

The game was close throughout, with a jumpshot from near the right elbow with less than two minutes on the clock giving the Hawks a two-point victory. Vets, however, would run away with the nightcap against the administration team.

While McCoombs and Sylvestre are trying to set up another game between the teams for this year, they said that even if they don’t, they’re looking forward to continuing the teams for next year.

“It’s so worth it for the community, it’s so worth it for all the kids,” Sylvestre said. “I think once word gets out, it’s just going to grow, so we’re excited for that.”

The elementary program will continue into next year as well, and McCoombs hopes that there’ll be enough teams to set up a miniature tournament.

Vets’ Unified team’s next game will be on April 1 at 9:30 a.m.