It was the first Panther Pals soccer game of the season, and everyone was excited to be there.

That they lost didn’t matter.

“It’s interesting figuring out all the new things, but overall, the activities bring us all closer together,” special education teacher Susan Topping said.

It’s the first year playing soccer for the Panther Pals, who play basketball in the winter.

“My favorite part about being on the team is playing sports just like the football guys,” senior Boston Dunn said.

Getting to represent Derby allows the players to show off their athleticism, just like any other sports team.

“The Panther Pals program really shows how much the students want to engage with the other students especially because they don’t have electives or anything,” special education teacher Christi Kull said.

Making connections and being a part of a team is something that most people want to be a part of, even the Panther Pals.

“The biggest thing to take away from being a part of the program is our students are the same as everyone else,” Topping said.

“They have their friendships, their drama, all the same a regular public school teenager would have.

“The kids are very competitive; they want to win, they even trash talk a little.”

Sports are a great way to show the team’s skill and teamwork, which normally goes unnoticed.

“If people could just see them as teenagers first and not see them as special education or having a disability because that’s how we look at them,” Topping said.

Peer mentors should also be recognized.

They donate their time to help the players and guide them during practices and games.

“As mentors, we just have to direct them and tell them ‘hey, let’s not do that,” junior Magnolia LaForge said. “… The games are voluntary, but I just go to support them.”

Freshman peer mentor Ava Cates added: “It’s good to be kind to them and have fun.

“My older brother has autism, I have always looked up to helping people like him so it’s nice to be a part of something like that.”