Casey Davison, senior coordinator for recreational sports at UMKC Campus Recreation, has been recognized as the 2025 Special Olympics Missouri 2025 Community Champion for the State of Missouri.
Davison led the effort for UMKC Campus Recreation to incorporate a Unified Sports League in its intramural programming. Unified Sports is a Special Olympics program that joins people with and without disabilities on the same team. Teammates are matched up based on age and ability to train and play together, forming friendships and understanding.
“Our partnership with KC Metro Area Special Olympics and our Unified Sports programming exemplifies the power of inclusion, creating a space where people of all abilities can connect, compete and grow together,” Davison said. “This partnership not only enriches our campus but also strengthens ties with the KC community through meaningful engagement and collective impact.”
The UMKC Unified Sports teams include UMKC students and athletes from the KC Metro Area Special Olympics playing flag football, pickleball, basketball and bocce, with soccer soon to be added.
The unified teams have won multiple National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Regional championships and ranked first in Missouri and 10th in the nation during ESPN's Unified College Championship Week.
"Casey has been key in building a strong partnership between UMKC and Special Olympics of Missouri," said Meg Ward, Kansas City program director for the Special Olympics of Missouri. "His advocacy and dedication have created lasting opportunities for inclusion and growth for SOMO athletes."
Cameron Reece, a senior in electrical and computer engineering, plays on the Unified basketball team. One of his favorite memories was traveling with the team to compete in the regional tournament in Columbia, Missouri.
“Unified Teams on campus is something dear to my heart,” Reece said. “I love basketball…I find it a lot of fun practicing together, coming up with plays, then getting to see how far we can go. It's something I look forward to.”
Brooke Tanner is a senior in nursing who plays on the flag football team. She traveled to Nebraska with the team, where they won a regional tournament.
“I have made amazing connections with the athletes and their families,” Tanner said. “We just have a blast together and it is so fun.”
Ward said UMKC is one of the only universities in Missouri to incorporate Unified teams into its intramural programs.
“We see UMKC as an exceptional model for peers across the state,” Ward said. “Through the context of Unified intramurals, our SOMO Athletes are playing sports on a college campus, building new friendships and ultimately finding increased joy and confidence on and off the playing field.”
For students who may be interested in joining, Reece said all they have to do is come to a Unified Night.
“We are always looking for people to join us to play or just have a good time,” he said.
Unified Nights are Tuesday nights from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Swinney Center and Durwood Soccer Stadium, dependent on the season.