Student brings inclusive sports to intramurals
Students high five during unified bocce.
Central Michigan University was the first state university to start a unified intramural sports league, thanks to the work of a student who recruited students to play and oversaw the leagues once they got started.
Troy native Ben Wrubel worked with Dan Ekonen, director of Unified Sports Initiatives at Special Olympics Michigan, and Scott George, assistance director of Competitive Sports & Summer Camps at University Recreation, to start the program in 2013. Ekonen thought of the idea as was a fun way to make Special Olympic athletes feel included on CMU's campus.
"One thing led to another, and it just took off. It's gotten pretty big since then," said Wrubel, 23.
Unified Sports pairs people with intellectual disabilities and student athletes to promote social inclusion through competition. Flag football and soccer are offered in the fall semester, and basketball, volleyball and kickball are offered in the spring.
Unified leagues work the same way as the other intramural leagues offered on CMU's campus, George said. There have been 295 student participants in Unified Sports, with roughly 118 athletes paired in each of the five sports offered.
"They're intramural leagues with supervisors and officials, just like other leagues," George said. "We have championships too."
George said he is looking forward to the continued growth of the program.
"Over 100 schools now have Unified Sports on a college campus," he said. "We are excited, and we are going to try and reach out to other areas to grow our numbers a little bit."
While Wrubel has always liked sports, seeing different types of athletes work together is what he enjoys most about the leagues.
"My favorite part is seeing everyone build friendships," Wrubel said. "It's great to see them (bond) with and without sports."
Wrubel now works as a sports and training intern at SOMI and with George, and oversees the Unified Sports leagues. He sees firsthand the life-changing impact the leagues have on both the Special Olympics athletes and students.
"(Athletes) get to feel like they are a part of the community and the university. With that there is inclusion," he said. "You can also tell the students get as much from it as the athletes do. I think we've started to make a difference in the athlete's lives, and it's rewarding to see all of that happen."
Ekonen said Unified Sports for students and athletes is more than playing on a team and building athletic skills--it's a chance for people with intellectual disabilities and students to bond over a mutual love of sports.
"They go to CMU baseball games. They go out and sing karaoke with each other," Ekonen said. "It's not 'we're here to help the athletes,' it's 'I'm here with my friends.' This really is a social change movement, and they're making a difference, whether they know it or not."
Student interest has grown, causing a shortage of athletes to participate in the leagues.
"We have more student interest than what we need for the leagues," he said. "We want to get more athletes from local areas."
To get involved with Unified Sports, students can visit the IM Leagues website at imleagues.com, or stop by the SOMI office on campus.
