by: Jessica Taylor, Caston Jr Sr High School

Briar Simpson is a fifteen year old, soon to be sophomore, who attends Greenwood High School located in Greenwood, Indiana. One of her favorite as well as most unique hobbies is participating in her school’s Unified Track and Field team. Briar joined the team as a freshman last year and plans to do it until her senior year. Briar’s older brother, a recent graduate of Greenwood, was in the sport as well. After watching him compete throughout the season, Briar decided to join. 

Simpson’s role on her team is to participate in the different track and field activities, such as those normally seen in track and field, and to do these with special needs students on the team. Her favorite part about being in Unified Track and Field is the socialness of the sport and how everyone is so friendly and talkative. “Everyone is just so nice and friendly to you even if you are new,” Simpson says. “Everyone gets to play in each category at my school and even if you are not that good at a certain section everyone still cheers you on and helps you to try and get better at it.”

The best experience Briar has had so far while participating in unified track and field was the awards banquet she attended at the end of the season where she saw her coach cry tears of happiness as the special needs students received their awards and one of them took their last award before they graduated. Briar says that this sport is a great opportunity to help and work with special needs kids and that it might help her choose a career in the future, as one of her ideas is something to do with working with kids.

Blair enjoying some pasta at Forest Dining Hall during her time at HSJI.