The Evanston High School unified track and field team made history last season, winning the first-ever team title at the WHSAA State Unified Track and Field Championships in Casper.

Two weekends ago, the Red Devils and Lady Devils officially made it a dynasty, winning their second straight championship in front of a packed house at Kelly Walsh High School’s Harry Geldien Stadium.

Held in conjunction with the Wyoming State Track and Field Championships, unified athletes from eight different high schools competed in five events: The 100 meter dash, the shot put, the long jump, the 4x100 relay and the 400 meter dash. Led by coaches Dave Deru and Ryan Berger, the team won three of the five events, with 21 athletes earning a spot on the podium.

With more athletes and unified partners this year than any other time in program history, the state championship was the culmination of what turned out to be a season for the books.

“We had a really great season, overall,” Deru said. “We have a lot of new unified partners — freshmen and sophomores — that stepped in this year, filled a role, did what they were supposed to do, which is exciting for the future. We had some older kids — like Leilani [Richardson] and Jovie [Quillinan] that have been here for a while, and were instrumental in showing the younger kids how it’s done. We had more participants this year — both athletes and unified partners — than we’ve had the whole time we’ve been in Special Olympics, so it’s been a really good year.”

Evanston was represented by 10 athletes and 10 unified partners, many of whom competed in at least three of the five events. Unlike last year, where the unified events were held at the same time as some of the State Track and Field Championships events, this year’s competitors had the crowd’s undivided attention, as the WHSAA scheduled the unified events during a break in the regular action.

“Having that break allowed our kids to be showcased more, and just seeing kids who you normally wouldn‘t think are very competitive — or maybe are on the shy side — come out of their shell and compete is just so much fun to see,” Deru explained. “I’ll use Cooper [Curry] as an example — he’s the shyest guy in the world, and when we got him to the banquets, we got him out there dancing. If you would have asked him a couple of years ago in middle school — before he started Special Olympics — that never would have happened. To see the kids’ growth in that respect, and to see the fire in their eyes when they compete, those are highlights for me. And, of course, the back-to-back State Champs is definitely a highlight.”

Deru went on to say he was happy to see the Unified Track and Field Championships grow from four teams last season to eight teams this year, with more kids competing on each team.

“There’s already talk of it being even bigger next year, so we’re excited about that,” he said.

“To see it grow — and for me and coach Berger to have the best team in that situation — is pretty cool.”

Back-to-Back, Baby!

The EHS State Championship Unified Team consisted of 20 members: Athletes Hunter Brown, Dayton Cates, Benny Chamberlain, Cooper Curry, Evan Elliott, Rylee Hagen, Joseph Johnson, Cody Pitcher, Shane Ruth, Kye Stringham and unified partners Eva Bybee, Gabby Bybee, Remington Cates, Jovie Quillinan, Leilani Richardson, Carson Stahl, Evelyn Stahl, Emily Swensen, Marlie Williams and Sofia Zarate.

Competing in the the 100 meter dash and the long jump, unified partner Jovie Quillinan said the highlight for her came during the long jump, when the crowd got behind each individual athlete.

“I really liked the long jump, when the whole crowd is clapping for you,” she said. “That’s really cool. Also this year, Kye [Stringham] got to go — last year he couldn’t, because they wouldn’t let us assist him in the events.This year, he was able to go, which was very cool. I was very happy he was able to participate with us.”

“And the back-to-back thing was cool, too,” Quillinan added.

Asked if competing in front of the capacity crowd was a little intimidating, Quillinan admitted to being nervous.

“I was, a little bit,” she said. “But it was really cool to see everyone so excited for us to be there. You could tell that the crowd was excited for us unified athletes to be there, and be a part of things.”

For Cooper Curry — aside from the dancing at the banquet — competing in a loaded field in the shot put and placing third was a moment he won’t soon forget.

“It was pretty good,” he said. “Everyone worked really hard to get there, so it was fun to do as well as I did.”

For senior unified partner Leilani Richardson — who might actually prefer the bowling season to the track season, when push comes to shove — it’s how the teams interact with one another that she enjoys most.

“I just like how the team is always so positive and uplifting,” she said. “I feel like when I did sports in middle school, sometimes it was hard for a team to be positive and uplifting, in general. That’s the thing about the Special Olympics — they stay positive, no matter what. It’s always fun, and they’re all friends.”

For senior Shane Ruth — who has now competed in his final State Unified Track and Field Championships — events like these have always been about spending time with old friends, and making new ones.

“When I first started out in seventh grade, I was super-shy, like Cooper was,” he explained. “But when I kept on doing these sports, I became friends with a lot of good people. Even people way up in Cody.”

But winning championships is definitely a close second.

“Winning back-to-back championships is also very cool,” Shane said, laughing.

Asked what they’ll miss most, seniors Quillinan, Richardson and Ruth agreed that the team and their coaches top the list.

“The team, the positivity, everything — it’s such a good environment,” Quillinan said. “I’m going to miss it a lot. But I am going to do an extended program with the Special Olympics in college, so I’ll still be involved. Which is cool.”

Ruth said he’ll miss everything, but pressed for more specifics, he said the people.

“It’s been such a big part of my life, and the people have all been so much fun to be with,” Ruth said. “It will be hard not to see them all the time.”

For Richardson, watching each member set and achieve their personal goals has been the most gratifying experience, and one she’ll miss as she moves on to the next chapter.

“Everyone has a personal goal,” she explained. “I like seeing all the hard work they put into practice for all of these events — like bowling and track — really pay off. To see their confidence build with each thing they do, it’s very gratifying.”

As for Curry — who will return for one more year — the opportunity to improve on this year’s performances, as well as meet new people, is what he’s looking forward to most as he enters his senior year.

“I’m really looking forward to all the new faces that will be doing the Special Olympics,” he said. “It should be a lot of fun.”

Reflecting on the team’s back-to-back championships, coach Deru said he’s excited about where unified programs across the state are headed.

“Our kids have set a great example for other teams around the state, and that’s what I’m most proud of as a coach,” he said. “These kids have learned empathy; they’ve learned how to interact with people in a positive way, how to be good role models for kids. When you take kids out of their comfort zone and watch them grow, that’s all you can ask for as a coach. This group of seniors ... [has] done a great job, and they’ve left a legacy — they’re the first Unified State Champs, and the first back-to-back Unified State Champs. They’re just winners, that’s all you can say about them.”

Deru wanted to thank the Uinta County School District #1, and was also quick to thank the community of Evanston for its support throughout the year.

“We’re so lucky that we have the support we have from the community,” he said. “We’re just so thankful for that.”

WHSAA State Unified

Track and Field

Championships

Mixed 100 Meter Dash

1. Remington Cates 13.92, 2. Eve Stahl 15.08, 5. Eva Bybee 16.30, 13. Emily Swensen 18.23, 14. Cooper Curry 18.46, 15. Shane Ruth 18.55, 16. Sofia Zarate 18.57, 17. Leilani Richardson 18.63, 18. Benny Chamberlin 18.79, 20. Jovie Quillinan 19.89, 22. Cody Pitcher 20.07, 23. Joseph Johnson 20.53, 30. Rylee Hagen 30.58, 31. Dayton Cates 54.66, 32. Kye Stringham 54.96

Mixed 4x100 Meter Relay

1. Evanston High School (Evan Elliott, Hunter Brown, Eva Bybee, Remington Cates) 1:00.25

Mixed Long Jump

1. Remington Cates 15’, 2. Evan Elliott 13’6”, 4. Eva Bybee 11’2”, 5. Gabby Bybee 10’9”, 6. Marlie Williams 10’4”, 7. Carson Stahl 9’1.5”, 8. Hunter Brown 7’11.5”, 9. Jovie Quillinan 7’7”, 11. Dayton Cates 4’5.5”, 12. Cody Pitcher 3’7”, 13. Kye Stringham 2’9.5”

Mixed Shot Put

3. Cooper Curry 22’10.75”, 4. Eve Stahl 21’11.75”, 5. Emily Swensen 21’3”, 6. Rylee Hagen 21’.25”, 7. Benny Chamberlin 20’.25”, 8. Shane Ruth 19’7.25”, 9. Sofia Zarate 17’4.5”, 10. Leilani Richardson 16’4.5”, 13. Joseph Johnson 14’10.5”

Mixed 400 Meter Dash

2. Gabby Bybee 1:17.05, 3. Carson Stahl 1:17.10, 4. Hunter Brown 1:19.95, 5. Marlie Williams 1:21.97, 6. Evan Elliott 1:24.06