On the sidelines with coach Drew Kisskalt

Under the instruction of coach Drew Kisskalt, who works as a special education teacher at Parcells Middle School and who has been coaching the team for four years now, the Unified Basketball team has been able to grow and prosper at North.

“When I found out about the opportunity from Ms. Davis four years ago, I immediately accepted,” Kisskalt said. “I thought what a great way to incorporate sports, which I love, and inclusion, which is something I try to strive for, for my students and players.”

A challenge for Kisskalt is finding teams to play against. With Unified Sports being a relevantly new idea and program in Michigan, it means that the program has a smaller season than other teams at North, but Kisskalt is optimistic for the future and can’t wait to see more teams join in.

“The biggest challenge for me was honestly just finding more teams to play because it is a newer thing,”

Kisskalt said. “But there’s some awesome grant funding through the Special Olympics that allows these teams to explore these options. I think more and more high schools in Michigan and hopefully around the country are jumping on board and getting involved.”

Not only does Kisskalt coach the team for the students, but also to benefit the community. Through Unified Sports, Kisskalt has been spreading a message of awareness and empathy.

“I think events like this help the entire community at this point,” Kisskalt said. “Any school or community that has an opportunity to get involved in Unified Sports, I say do it. It helps grow understanding and awareness, empathy. But the biggest thing, again I’m going to go back to my players, they get a sense of independence, camaraderie, dignity and feeling welcome to be part of the school.”

1. HELPING HAND | The Unified team’s number three junior Alyssa Burney assisted the players in the basketball game and ensured they had the spotlight. “I really like helping the kids that don’t have as good of the chances we do in sports,” Burney said. “And I’m also a KNOTS, so I get to see them and spend a lot of time with them.”

2. SECURING THE BALL | School safety during games is of utter importance for Grosse Pointe North’s security guard, Colleen Koch, who decided to cheer on North for the night. “Normally I work and I thought I am still going to go because I participated, I know the coach, I bought the shirt, and I am a Norsemen,” Koch said.

3. GO GREEN AND YELLOW | Freshman Jessica Taylor appreciates the camaraderie between the fans and both teams as she supports the Norsemen with all the yellow and green at the basketball game. “I like that everyone is united, and we can just cheer on each other,” Taylor said.

4. WIN IT ALL | In North’s first home game, Junior McKayla Hastings, a member of the team’s Unified Basketball team, scored the game-winning basket for the team. “[I love] stealing,” Hastings said. “I wait for my moment to strike and then I steal from the easier players.”

5. HOPING HOOPERS | During Charity Week, the team competed in two home games where Student Association collected donations for Kids On The Go. Class of 2026 senator Lauren Loper gathered these donations for the non-profit program. “The charity provides summer camps for kids that have enrichment so that kids with special needs can really get involved in their community and learn new skills [that] help them develop,” Loper said.

6. KEEPING HIS HOOPS HIGH | Special education teacher at Parcells and North’s Unified Basketball coach, Drew Kisskalt values his players and wants them to feel dignity and a sense of belonging to the school community. “I’ve been a coach and a teacher for many years and all of my students and players are very special to me,” Kisskalt said. “But Unified Basketball is uniquely special in that it gives me the chance to be with students who don’t always have a full menu of options.”