During a track and field meet at Shelton High School this past spring season, some of the Newtown High Unified Sports athletes and partners on the Gold Rush squad hurried across the turf field to the opposite side of the track in order to cheer on other members of the team before they missed their chance.

Talk about being great teammates.

It is this sort of show of support and enthusiasm that makes Kathy Davey, coach of Newtown's Unified Sports squad, so thrilled about what she does.

"We just have such a nice team; we have a caring team. It's a family. Everybody's rooting one another on. We cheer, and everybody's successful," Ms Davey said.

And when Ms Davey says everybody, she means everybody. Players with special needs and the partners - high school peers who help the athletes give it their all - support not only teammates but also opponents.

Unified Sports, which provides athletic-playing opportunities in the fall, winter, and spring at many high schools and some middle schools, is all about sportsmanship. Participants glean a variety of skills that, Ms Davey believes, will help them down the road.

"It's definitely a life lesson where you learn empathy, compassion, and it's also a confidence-booster to know they can do it," Ms Davey, who teaches physical education and health at Newtown High School, and works with the school's Best Buddies program, said of both the athletes and the partners.

Athletes who otherwise would not have an opportunity to play an organized school sport gain the confidence that they can complete and challenge themselves, as well as opponents. The partners take from this experience that they can hold leadership roles and help direct their fellow classmates in an athletic setting.

"I think it's a learning experience for all of us. Everyone comes out and we give it our best effort," said Lauren Zimmerman, a partner with Newtown Unified Sports and a varsity athlete at NHS. "It's always a good time - never a dull moment."

Jordan Cicchesi, a Gold Rush athlete who is among the many participants who not only benefit from the enthusiasm put forth by the partners, but also takes on a leadership role and helps his peers himself, is appreciative of what Ms Davey does for the squad.

"Ms Davey is an amazing coach and has taught me a lot," said Jordan, adding that sportsmanship is one of the points of emphasis.

"The one thing I notice all the time is how awesome they feel - the smiles on their faces," added Natalie Shaker, a Gold Rush partner and Newtown High varsity athlete.

Brianna Linden, another partner with the Gold Rush, points out that special needs students get to experience what their peers do on the varsity squads - be a part of a team and enjoy more than just time working together in athletics.

As a result of working together in athletics, the athletes and partners have relationships off the tracks, courts, and playing fields, and interact in the hallways at NHS.

"It's that connection you make" that is the best part of being a partner in the program, Ashlyn DeLoughy said.

During the spring track and field campaign, the athletes learn field events such as long jump and javelin throw, and run in sprints and distance races. The teamwork really shows during relay races when partners hand the baton off to the athletes so they have a chance to run with it, a microcosm of what Unified Sports is all about.

"It's so much fun. I look forward to it at the end of the day," Gold Rush partner Alex Chatzikonstantinou said.

Athletes and partners on the Newtown Unified Gold Rush team include: Nolan Adis, Jessica Andreotta, Bryan Bailey, Joshua Bailey, Emma Biles, James Carroll, Emily Celentano, Alex Chatzikonstantinou, Jordan Cicchesi, Ashlyn DeLoughy, Rebecca DiDomizio, Lindsay Dievert, Meghan Doyle, Joshua Dunn, Ryan Farrell, Logan Flynn, Garrett Fitzpatrick, Brianna Giglio, Alexa Gordon, Daniel Grosso, Brianna Linden, Izzy Kaiser, Kaity Kastanek, Jackie Magoon, Cory Mangold, Katie McCabe, Dani Mola, Isabella Morganti, Johnny Nowacki, Duncan O'Leary, Kaitlyn Reilly, Timmy Rogers, Madeline Rose, Nicholas Rose, Amy Sapenter, Natalie Shaker, Isabel Shaw, Brian Smith, Carlie Smith, Julie Smith, Sophia Spraggins, Anna Steare, Olivia Steare, Ben Suckow, Rachel Swenson, Rachel Tomasino, McKenna Timmons, Jennifer Uhl, Jessica Viesto, Matt Vigneau, Rose Wheway, and Lauren Zimmerman.