East Carolina University

04/29/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/29/2026 07:15

Unified soccer kicks off at ECU

Unified soccer kicks off at ECU

Any first-game nerves at the East Carolina University Blount Recreational Sports Complex for the first Special Olympics Unified soccer match were quickly erased by smiles, cheers, high-fives and more smiles.

And then goals. A wave of them scored by players on both teams - a purple team and a gold team - that included ECU students without disabilities and Greenville Special Olympics athletes with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

"The joy I feel playing alongside our athletes is unmatched," said Rylee Pratt, a biology major and president of the ECU Special Olympics Club.

Pratt and other student leaders joined adviser Dr. Lindsey Oakes, assistant professor in the Department of Recreation Sciences and Sport Management, to establish the club that earned ECU official designation as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. Oakes said about 215 colleges and universities nationwide have Special Olympics clubs.

Campus Recreation and Wellness and club sports were key supporters. Clinics and practices were held prior to the first two matches in early April.

"These sessions clearly create meaningful, shared experiences for everyone involved, where teamwork, communication and mutual respect are constantly developing," Oakes said. "What stands out even more is the lasting impact on the ECU students without IDD. They're not only gaining valuable inclusive skills, but they're also carrying these perspectives and experiences into their future careers and communities. These experiences not only enhance their time at ECU, but also prepare them to be more empathetic, collaborative and socially responsible professionals in their future careers."

Cormauni Morrison is a club officer and special education major. The other officers are Zyon Miles, studying sport management, and Paige Hull in public health.

"I have witnessed the impact of encouragement, patience and teamwork, not only on the athletes, but also on myself as a leader," Morrison said. "We've seen the confidence and happiness of the participants as they engage, grow and succeed in their own ways. These interactions have strengthened my passion for special education and reinforced my commitment to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and supported."

Raymond Henderson, a Special Olympics Coach of the Year in North Carolina, said the participating Greenville Special Olympics athletes range from age 25 to 48.

"When I was presented with this idea last summer, I thought it was great because it is good exercise for them," said Henderson, '06, an ECU art graduate who lives in Greenville and works as a senior autism services coordinator for the Autism Society of North Carolina. "As they get older, they are not in PE classes anymore, so some type of physical activity to get them moving and running is always great. Our buddies also love that the college kids know their names. That makes their day."

ECU's students have bonded through the impactful moments.

"Every time I left practice, I had a smile on my face," Pratt said.

Miles emphasized the supporting environment already established within the ECU Special Olympics Club.

"It's been a pretty awesome club family," he said. "There's a sense of pride and it doesn't matter what team you are on, everyone claps for you when you score. If you fall down or get injured, everyone claps for you when you get back up. It's great."

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East Carolina University published this content on April 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 29, 2026 at 13:15 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]