WRHS students, Cohen Nimz, Gentry Scheid, and Conner Schonlaw, got selected to represent Kansas and Sporting KC in the MLS Special Olympics Unified Sports soccer program.

This program unites individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. Those with are the special olympic athletes and those without are unified members. All of these people come together to play soccer on a team together.

Every club in the MLS picks around 2-3 high school students to represent them on a bigger team combined of many different representatives of clubs. Just like the regular MLS league, there is a western conference and eastern conference competing against each other. 

This is a huge opportunity for these students, as they get to represent their state, play competitively against others at the same level as them, and travel all over the country to compete. The games start in May and they will continue playing until October of 2024.

Gentry Schied and Connor Schonlaw are the special olympic athletes that are representing WRHS. They were both interviewed about this event. Gentry says, “It felt good to be selected for this and I am excited to have a good team to play with.” Conner was asked about the process of being selected. “I tried out for the team and then over spring break they sent me an email saying I got in. I am very excited to meet new friends and get to know new people.”

Cohen Nimz, one of the unified members was asked what the Unified Sports program has brought him and what he is most looking forward to. “It warms my heart to be able to help others and show love to those that are less fortunate than me. I am most looking forward to being able to help all of the unified players, meet new people from other schools, and be able to interact with Sporting KC.”

The signing day for this event is on April 23, 2024. WRHS is so proud of these students and is very excited to watch them as they succeed in this program.