Tiger Unified Basketball had a season to remember, blazing a trail through districts and to the state tournament for the Special Olympic Winter Games, where they all came home with bronze metals around their necks and a third-place trophy to display proudly in Tiger territory.

The Unified team consists of a mix of special needs students, general education students (Unified partners) and young adults from the Battle Ground Futures program, which builds skills to foster independence in employment, life skills and community interactions for students ages 18-21 with disabilities. Together, this mix of athletes build a bond and learn from each other as they strive toward a common goal as a team.

The Unified Basketball team is no stranger to state-level competition; they also earned a spot there in 2024.

Head Coach Jason Otto beamed with pride for the athletes, noting that they all worked together well and played hard to earn that honor. He adds, “All of these athletes are very special. To see the bright smiles on their faces every day, and their excitement to play is such a special thing to me as a coach.”

Athlete Josh Sieng cites teamwork as his favorite part, and winning a trophy was the cherry on top. Jayden Beachell seconds teamwork and also chimes in his appreciation for sportsmanship and the chance to meet new people.

After an adventure-filled season and post-season, the team savored the hardware they had earned with their third-place finish and “celebrated by dancing the night away,” adds assistant coach Tanner Casaw, who was instrumental in the team’s competitive finish, and joined right into the dance party with the team.

What a fantastic accomplishment by a devoted set of athletes and coaches!

Jason Otto is also the head coach for Unified Soccer and Bowling. He’s been coaching for 14 years and loves supporting the students and helping them reach new heights athletically. He adds, “Yes, we want to win. But the most important thing we’re after is to have fun. After every practice and game, I ask the team, ‘Did you have fun?’ If the answer is yes, we’ve succeeded.”