On a crisp fall morning, the air just beginning to hint at the chill of winter, excitement buzzed through the stands at Harbor Lights Middle School. Soph Zephrance “Zeph” Underwood stood ready for the opening kickoff, the rivalry game between Harbor Lights and Macatawa Bay Middle School about to begin. The field was alive with color, the energy palpable as students, parents, and faculty filled the bleachers. Voices mixed together in a hum of anticipation as the game went underway.
Zeph was already a well-known figure in West Ottawa—not just for his impressive skills on the soccer field, but for his ability to bring people together. Teammates admired his selflessness and the way he made everyone around him better. But Zeph’s most recent achievement was something even more remarkable: he helped create the West Ottawa Unified soccer team. Unified sports are a growing movement across the U.S., where students with and without physical or mental disabilities play alongside one another. It’s about more than just the game—promoting inclusion, friendship, and camaraderie.
One moment Zeph would never forget came during halftime of a rivalry game between West Ottawa and Rockford’s varsity teams. The Unified team took the field for a special showcase, and the energy was electric. Jr. Kyler Comment, a goalkeeper on the varsity team and a participant in unified soccer, smiled as he recalled that moment: “One of my favorite memories has to be at halftime during the Rockford game. After playing with my varsity teammates, I got to play with my Unified teammates. There were so many fans cheering us on it was amazing.”
Kyler also reminisced about another unforgettable experience: when he and his teammate Isaac won first place in a Unified soccer skills competition. “Winning felt awesome,” he said. “But what made it even better was celebrating afterward. We went to Wendy’s and got the Krabby Patty meal—just a fun way to bond and celebrate our hard work. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish.”
For Frosh. Kyleigh Hill, who played a crucial role in the creation of the Unified team, it was all about teamwork. “We had a Unified soccer skills competition where we worked together, and even though we were challenged, it felt so rewarding,” she recalled. “It was a great mix of teamwork and a little friendly competition.”
Kyleigh’s passion for Unified soccer had deep roots, beginning long before high school. “I played for Michigan Rangers FC, and in middle school, I was on the Unified soccer team,” she said. “That season was so impactful for me, and I knew then I wanted to keep playing soccer in college. But I also wanted to stay involved in Unified sports, so I joined LINKS. After talking with Zeph’s mom, Tashia, she told me West Ottawa didn’t have a Unified soccer team yet. That night, I emailed [Instructor Jenna]Ms. Plewes with a long message about my soccer and LINKS experience, hoping to bring the two together. She agreed, and we started making it happen.”
Kyleigh’s hard work paid off. Over the summer, she and her team reached out to Special Olympics to help get the program started. Shortly after, she asked Zeph to join the effort, knowing they shared the same passion. Together, they made it a reality.
For Kyleigh, one of the most meaningful moments of the journey was when Ms. Plewes handed her the game and practice schedule during her first week of high school. “She gave me a schedule with my name and face on it as a coach, and it felt surreal,” Kyleigh said with a smile. “I just hoped I could make my team’s experience as special as mine had been in middle school.”
For Zeph, Kyleigh, and their teammates, Unified soccer is about so much more than just the game. It’s about creating opportunities for everyone to play, grow, and share in the joy of sport. Whether on the field or off, it’s the moments of teamwork, celebration, and community coming together that make these memories unforgettable. Whether they were playing in front of packed stands or celebrating with teammates over a Krabby Patty meal, these experiences were about much more than victory—they were about connection, support, and lifting each other up.
The spirit of Unified sports was truly captured during a game against Zeeland. Afterward, the Zeeland volleyball team showed their support by forming a tunnel for the teams to walk through. “It was incredible,” Kyleigh recalled. “Winning or losing didn’t matter. We were all there for the same reason—to enjoy the game and support one another.”
Whether it was playing during halftime of the varsity game, helping middle schoolers find their confidence, or simply being part of a team that valued friendship above all else, the Unified soccer team had become something much bigger than they had ever imagined. For Zeph, Kyleigh, and their teammates, it wasn’t just about the final score—it was about the unforgettable memories, the lasting friendships, and the true spirit of inclusion.
