Emily Boyle always has had a passion for coaching.

The Northampton High School biology teacher currently is a middle school field hockey coach, and another opportunity caught her eye last year.

Boyle saw a posting for a head coach for the school’s new Unified Track and Field team, an inclusive sports program that brings together athletes with, and without, intellectual disabilities to train and compete as teammates. It’s a Special Olympics program that promotes social inclusion and understanding through shared sports experiences.

Boyle, who previously worked at a summer camp for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, believed it would be another good coaching fit.

“I think what really drove me to do this was the idea of giving these students the opportunity to be a part of a team and represent their school while learning the importance of acceptance and inclusion.

“Athletics is a unique opportunity to meet friends they normally wouldn’t meet and to learn a new skill like track and field.”

Boyle stated that each athlete competes on their own in a running event (100 m, 400 m or 800 m) and a field event (long jump, mini javelin, or shot put). They also have a chance to be on one of the relay teams (4x100 or 4x400). She added that the athletes competed against people the same speed as them - regardless of whether or not they have a disability.

Northampton’s team consisted of 26 athletes, and they won three regular-season meets during the season, with victories over Saucon Valley, Emmaus, and Allen. The Kids finished first at the regional meet, and 13 athletes competed. They also were one of nine teams to travel to the state meet at Shippensburg.

At the state meet, Felix Ramos was third in the shot put, and Jayden Gyecsek-Gensey was fifth in the mini-javelin from their 12-member allotment.

“We came back with a lot of incredible memories,” added Boyle.

Boyle is grateful for assistant coaches Gretchen Troxell and Emily Peer, as well as her father, Joseph Boyle.

“Gretchen Troxell and Emily Peer played a big role in recruiting athletes to join our team, and their passion to always better our athletes is why our first two seasons have been so successful,” boasted Boyle. “I am also lucky to have my dad, Joseph Boyle, help us out and be our volunteer shot put coach.

“Our coaching staff is also competitive in nature, so I knew it would be fun,” said Boyle. “We would train and coach our team like any other sports team on campus.”

However, just being there is as important as any success on the field.

“Students with disabilities do not usually get the chance to play on their school sports team,” noted Boyle. “It has been an honor to see all of our unified athletes represent Northampton with so much pride and respect.”