-and-
It was a day of celebration, sportsmanship, and inclusion at Organ Mountain High School as the Knights proudly hosted the 2025 NM Special Olympics Play Unified Basketball Game.
Source: Las Cruces Public Schools
By Samantha Lewis
Photos By Samantha Lewis for LCPS: Courtesy
It was a day of celebration, sportsmanship, and inclusion at Organ Mountain High School as the Knights proudly hosted the 2025 NM Special Olympics Play Unified Basketball Game. The event brought together students from Las Cruces, Centennial, and Mayfield High Schools for an inspiring Unified Basketball tournament that highlighted the power of teamwork, unity, and diversity.
During the event, Organ Mountain High School received a national banner and plaque from ESPN, naming them the New Mexico Unified Champion School (UCS) of the Year and one of the Top 50 Unified Champion Schools in the Nation. This prestigious recognition celebrates Organ Mountain’s unwavering commitment to fostering inclusion and creating opportunities for students with and without disabilities to participate in sports as equals.
I absolutely love everything about this game,” said Coach Marie McGrath, Special Education Teacher and Special Olympics NM Advisor. “These students are getting high-fives in the hallway, and they truly feel like they’re part of high school. It’s about improving their quality of life—they’re making memories that they’ll carry with them forever, and their peers are part of that experience,” McGrath added.
Unified Sports, a core initiative of Special Olympics New Mexico, partners’ students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team, emphasizing teamwork, respect, and the joy of competition. The event at Organ Mountain High School was a powerful demonstration of these values, with the gym buzzing with excitement and filled with banners of encouragement crafted by students from various clubs and activities.
The event was made possible with support of the United States Department of Education (USDE) and Special Olympics New Mexico. Unified Champion Schools play a crucial role in the education system, promoting inclusion, diversity, health, fun, and equality for every student, regardless of their abilities. The Special Olympics of New Mexico provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, promoting inclusion and building community through sports.
Organ Mountain High School is proud to join Las Cruces High School in earning the distinguished honor of becoming a Unified Champion School for the 2024-2025 school year. This recognition highlights both schools’ commitment to inclusive practices and fostering meaningful participation in sports for students of all abilities.
Mayfield High School earned its status as a Unified Champion School in 2019 and has been consistently recognized on the Champion Schools list ever since. In 2020, Mayfield was further distinguished as an ESPN Top 5 National Banner School, cementing its legacy of excellence in promoting inclusion and respect.
Organ Mountain High School’s recognition as a Unified Champion School emphasizes the dedication at the castle to creating an inclusive school environment where all students are celebrated.
