The Fifth Annual Special Spirit Event Hosted at UNH

Energy is high. The “High School Musical” classic “Get Your Head in the Game” blares over the speakers as basketballs soar across the gym. The Portsmouth Clippers circle up and begin to stretch while the Pinkerton Astros are rallying each other up while proceeding to follow their competitors. Not only are the two teams preparing for the big game ahead of them, but in the stands the band begins to warm-up their instruments. Despite the chaos of it all, everything is going to plan.

Sporadically placed throughout the gym, lilac purple and maroon shirts labeled “staff” quickly move around. Keeping to a tight schedule, the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) maintain the fun and entertaining atmosphere for fans and athletes. Taking place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 26. in the Lundholm Gymnasium in the University of New Hampshire’s Field House, SOTA hosts the fifth annual Special Spirit UNH.

Special Spirit was created in 2011 by Todd Borchers. Borchers is the coordinator of academic advising and tutoring services at The University of Massachusetts Lowell and head coach of Pinkerton Academy’s Special Olympics basketball program. He has been couching at Pinkerton Academy for 15 years.

The idea for creating Special Spirit came from Borcher’s years couching Pinkerton Academy. His mission for this event is to create a college-like experience for special needs athletes in which they are the center of attention. While the event takes place fundraising and awareness is brought to light. Originally starting the event at the UMass Lowell, it was then brought to UNH and Northeastern University.

Borchers brought the event to UNH while he was a residence hall director at Williamson Hall. At the time his assistant hall director, Alexandra Roscoe was the vice president of SOTA and through teamwork and coordination they were able to start an annual tradition.

“SOTA has taken the program to a new level,” Borchers says. “Between the amount of fans they are able to pack into the Field House, to the money raised for the teams, SOTA continues to impress. When I started this program, I had no budget, no help, and it was super hard to get the word out. I believe SOTA was able to spread the word and share the passion of their work through this program, and I am forever grateful that they were involved in establishing bringing it to UNH.”

Before the event, each member of SOTA was assigned a different role. Fundraising was completed, and donations were given for the event and raffles. For some members, it was decorating posters and the gymnasium, where to put food, and set up the raffle prizes. The other roles involved social media and outreach; making the flyers that were handed out to fans, posting on Instagram and Facebook, getting the word out to clubs, organizations and students.

During the event, the participating members each signed up for a task. Sabrina Patterson, a sophomore occupational therapy major, spent her time keeping score and managing the clock. She was also part of handing out medals at the end of the game.

Tension is rising as the end of game nears. The Pinkerton Astros are down with five minutes and 30 seconds left in the game. The Astros stand on the side lines with looks of hope, eagerness, worry and stress as the clock ticks lower and lower. With three minutes and 30 seconds remains the band amplifies throughout the gymnasium raising spirits. The Cat pack begins to dance. Before the players knew it, the buzzer goes off and the score board reads 44 Clippers to 22 Astros.

Patterson and the other members of SOTA handed out medals to the 15 players on the Portsmouth Clippers and the 10 players on the Pinkerton Astros.

“Handing out the medals was probably the best part of the night for me,” Patterson says. “When I handed out my medal I could see the smile on the player’s face get really big. He even gave me a hug because he was so happy. Making him that happy made my night and it was awesome. All the players really deserved those medals because they played their hearts out.”

Melissa Williams, President of SOTA, is a senior occupational therapy major and has been a part of the organization all four years she has attended UNH. Williams says planning for next year’s Special Spirit starts the day after the event is held. It is SOTA’s biggest event each year and takes lots of work and planning.

“Giving these athletes the chance to do something they love in a setting like this, enhances their lives more than anyone could imagine,” Williams says. “The next day the coaches told me the athletes were walking around school showing everyone their medals and saying how they played for UNH last night. Every single person in that crowd played a large role in that, and for that we are so thankful. I always say that while the athletes will remember the setup of the gym, the posters and medals they got, and the exciting performances, what they really will remember for years to come is every single person in those stands cheering for them.”

John Wilcox, SOTA’s advisor, says the goal of the organization is purpose.

“The students of SOTA represent one of the best aspects of our profession,” says Wilcox. “They strive to strengthen the community around them, support each other through sharing of experiences and mentorship of freshman through graduate students, and represent the student body in our national occupational therapy organization in policy and other advocacy collaborations.”

SOTA’s work and dedication each year allows Borchers to carry out his initial plans and dreams for this event. Borchers says he is grateful for the work SOTA does and how ever since leaving UNH professionally he has been able to count on SOTA to keep him up to date on what their ideas and plans are for Special Spirit each year.

“I’m hoping someday to be able to run the program as a non-profit across all of New England, and maybe even nationally,” Borchers says, referring to his dreams for the future of Special Spirit.

“I have heard rumblings of other schools that wanted to be involved, but it takes time,” Borchers continues. “It’d be amazing to expand the event to include more teams, personalized college-specific commemorative jerseys, and even celebrity appearances.”