Unified Strength and Conditioning, an uplifting sport
Tyler Maclver stretching before beginning weightlifting. Photos by Brandy Muz
Students jump to pop music together to warm up.
Stretching is important to prepare for the lifting.
Michael Clements shows off his lifting skills.
Marybeth Kiernan helping her students with proper form.
Lifting for greatness, Alton McCane shows off his skills.
Madi Kisielius is all giggles during her warm-ups.
Tyler Maclver stretching before beginning weightlifting. Photos by Brandy Muz
Students jump to pop music together to warm up.
Stretching is important to prepare for the lifting.
Michael Clements shows off his lifting skills.
Marybeth Kiernan helping her students with proper form.
Lifting for greatness, Alton McCane shows off his skills.
Madi Kisielius is all giggles during her warm-ups.
Upbeat workout music, chatter and laughter fills the weight room at Wareham High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays as students pump iron and build muscle together.
The Unified Strength and Conditioning team gives students a recreational activity between the student's more competitive sports seasons, basketball and track. The team is coached by Wareham Middle and High School's occupational therapist, Marybeth Kiernan.
Unified sports gives kids with special needs the opportunity to get stronger, spend time with friends and hone in on their capabilities. Kiernan has been with most of the students since they were small, touching on specific memories she had with them when they were toddlers.
"I was the occupational therapist that worked in the preschool, so like Alton— I've known him since he was 2.9 months old," Kiernan said.
Alton McCane is one of three team captains, working alongside Tyler Maclver and Antonio Colon. Though the trio all said their favorite sport to participate in is track and field, they all know what it takes to be a leader.
"You have to have your listening ears on," said Colon. "You're gonna tell everyone how strength and conditioning works and what do to, like running in place."
The team takes four exercises and tests students at the beginning and ends of their seasons, using the combined scores of students to compare to other schools. The team will be ranked on the number of points received and compared to other districts.
McCane said having a coach like Kiernan helps them succeed. As the rest of the team practiced, he said she was a "great teacher."
"She's one of the best teachers that could have ever taught us how to use weights and how to do our stretches too," McCane said.
Maclver said he enjoys lifting, his favorite being the 10 pound free weights. With the rigorous exercise he hopes to look like a few buff cartoon characters.
"I'll be just like Hercules or Mr. Incredible," Maclver said while flexing his biceps.
The trio of captains get along well, joking with each other and sharing quips about the workouts. The camaraderie on the team is something Kiernan said is a highlight of her job.
"They're chatting away," she said as she watched her students play exercise-based games. "They love coming here. It's social as well and they're working on staying strong."
With spring on its way the team will be using their newfound strength and conditioning skills to bring them into another successful track and field season at the end of March.
