West Hartford teen Desmond McGloin, a member of Scout Troop 146, built cornhole boards for the Middle School Unified Sports program as his Eagle Scout project.

Sedgwick Unified Sports end of year celebration. Courtesy photo

Submitted by Steve Garneau

The Sedgwick Middle School Unified Cornhole season officially wrapped up on May 27 with an exciting tournament featuring our very own high school Unified Cornhole team! Watching the students play, cheer each other on, and enjoy the game alongside their middle and high school peers was a special kind of magic. This milestone marked the very first season for the middle school cornhole team and there will undoubtedly be many more to come.

Unified Sports brings students with and without disabilities together on the same team, fostering a culture of inclusion, teamwork, and lasting friendships.

Sedgwick Unified Sports end of year celebration. Courtesy photo

The players and coaches were incredibly proud to showcase their brand-new, handcrafted cornhole boards, custom-made by former student, Unified partner Desmond McGloin, now a ninth grader at Conard High School.

Desmond’s connection to the program runs deep. He became a Unified Basketball partner during his sixth grade year and participated all three years of middle school, widely known by coaches and peers as a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive leader.

Because the Unified program at Sedgwick meant so much to him, Desmond chose to give back to the community for his Eagle Scout service project. As a member of West Hartford Scout Troop 146, he set out to build six pairs (12 boards total) for the Middle School Unified Program. Generous donations from West Hartford community members funded the necessary building materials. With the collaborative help of his fellow troop members and friends, Desmond finished handcrafting the boards just in time for the inaugural spring season.

Sedgwick Unified Sports end of year celebration. Courtesy photo

On May 26, the cornhole team held an end-of-season pizza party at Sedgwick Middle School to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the athletes and their partners during this historic first season.

To show the program’s deep appreciation, coaches Denise Brezinski, Victoria Bates, Colin Bowie, and Steve Garneau presented Desmond with a commemorative plaque recognizing his hard work, dedication, and endless support. In a final, heartwarming act of generosity, Desmond turned around and presented a check donation to the program to fund future enhancements.

From left: Denise Brezinski, Desmond McGloin, Steven Garneau. Courtesy photo

All of our coaches, players, and families are profoundly grateful to Desmond and Scout Troop 146 for their support. Thank you for helping our Unified team shine!

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