Superintendent Michael S. Nelson, Principal Michael Devoll, Coach Emma Fenton, and the Police Departments and Police Chiefs in Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester proudly announce that the Old Rochester Regional High School Unified Bulldogs continued their winning streak against the Tri-Town Police squad by a score of 86 to 74, notching their third straight win in this annual event that has raised thousands of dollars to support the district’s unified sports programs.
The game, held on November 13 at Old Rochester Regional High School (ORRHS), was the culmination of another successful, undefeated season for the Unified Bulldogs.
“Watching our athletes and the officers come together on the court was incredible and was a powerful display of community spirit, generosity, and our shared commitment to inclusion,” said Coach Fenton, who is also a special education teacher at ORRHS. “We are so grateful for the generous and unwavering support of the Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Marion Police Departments and their commitment to making this event happen every year.”
With the support of the Tri-Town Police and others from the Old Rochester Regional community, event organizers raised close to $4,000 for the high school’s unified sports programs through a combination of raffles, concessions, and the cost of admission.
Organizers of the third annual game between the Unified Bulldogs and Tri-Town Police also used the event to collect food donations for community members in need. Hundreds of nonperishable items were collected at the door for the Damien’s Place Food Pantry in Wareham.
The Unified Sports program at Old Rochester Regional High School and other schools in Massachusetts is operated in partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, providing students with disabilities the opportunity to play high school sports alongside their peers in a supportive and fun environment.
After the game, trophies were presented to the Unified Bulldogs team members and the three police departments. Before the tip-off, Emilia Cantwell was honored for playing her final home game for the Bulldogs. Members of the law enforcement squad presented her with a custom T-shirt, covered with pictures of her and local police, with a statement underneath, “Mattapoisett Police #1 Fan.”
“Thank you to everyone who came out, donated, and cheered us on,” Coach Fenton said. “You’ve made a real difference in the lives of our athletes, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
The 2024 Old Rochester Bulldogs Unified Basketball team’s 21-player roster included Transition Program Students Emilia Cantwell, Traeh Carrington, and Aveil Ward; seniors Michael Hogan, Tom Grondin, and Cami Van Ness; juniors Chris Heuberger, Adam Murphy, Quinn Perry, Rachel Tse, Ben Wesoly, David Wilson, and Hannah Thorell; sophomores Thomas Jupin, Jackson Daniel, Harrison Porter, Connor Blachly, and Hannah Mansfield; freshmen Nathaniel Tse, Daniel Giandomenico, and Jazmin Kearns; and eighth-grader Hayden Perry.
In addition to Fenton, the team was coached by assistant coaches Lindsay Deignan, Kris Wordell, Danielle Dore, Noah Richard, and Beth Trout, backed by Athletic Trainer John Mullen, with the support of Athletic Director Chris Carrig.
The season-ending event follows a pep rally held to celebrate the Unified Bulldogs for their successful year, with all Old Rochester Regional High School students in attendance, many holding up homemade posters and offering high-fives to support the athletes. The school raised a banner during the pep rally, marking the Unified Bulldogs’ perfect season in 2023. While the team secured a 7-0 record for their regular season, the Unified Bulldogs will play two additional shortened games this year as part of a jamboree event held later in November at B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River.
“Congratulations to our talented Unified Basketball team on their perfect season,” Superintendent Nelson said. “Thank you to Principal Devoll, Director Carrig, and Coach Fenton for their amazing work in operating this program and providing this special recognition for our players. Through these efforts, we get to see and feel the positive impact of inclusivity and camaraderie among our awesome students and staff.”