Rowan Unified Sports has a longstanding tradition of excellence, and they were recognized on Wednesday, Oct. 23 on the field at the Rowan Soccer Complex, playing a soccer season finale during halftime of Rowan men’s soccer’s win over Kean.

The program “promotes inclusion through sport,” a motto promoted on their official Facebook page. People with disabilities can participate in sports, specifically soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter.

The soccer season just concluded, but the players got one more chance to show off their skills in front of a Rowan crowd that was just as excited to watch them play.

“When you have that great feeling of helping someone, that’s what unified is,” said Cross McMann, a sophomore accounting major. McMann is in the midst of his second unified season, and he participated in the same-style program in high school. “I saw it here at Rowan, and I said ‘I gotta do this.’”

McMann credits meeting new people and beginning connections with others as one of his favorite parts of being involved in unified sports, as does Justin Aquino, who participates in the program as a player.

“It’s a big family,” said Aquino.

Bre Bryant, a graduate student getting her master’s degree in higher education, also helps out with the club. She loves competition as a Rowan softball player but joined in on the unified action this August for the first time.

“I think the major takeaway is that life is really not that serious,” said Bryant. “When I’m playing softball now, watching all the people play soccer without a care in the world, it just puts it into perspective that a strikeout really doesn’t matter at the end of the day.”

It’s easy to get involved in Rowan Unified Sports; just visit ProfLink and simply search Unified Sports Club, or you can directly contact the program by emailing RowanUnifiedSports@gmail.com.

You can also keep up with the latest involving the club by following @rowanunified on Instagram, subscribing to Rowan Unified Sports on YouTube, and liking Rowan Unified Sports on Facebook.

Once you get involved, Cross McMann urges you to not shy away from being active in the club.

“Don’t be afraid,” said McMann.

After all, it is the players that absolutely benefit from your involvement.

You never know, you might just meet your next best friend.

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