Zack and Deacon’s friendship began as many do—on the school bus in kindergarten. However, the start of their relationship was far from picture-perfect. “I was the troublemaker,” Zack admits. “I was messing with Deacon on the bus, and one day, he and his dad showed up at my house. I was happy to see Deacon, but a little concerned why his dad was there!” After a conversation with Zack and his dad, Deacon learned that Zack had an intellectual disability. “I didn’t know he had an intellectual disability, but from that day on, I understood,” Deacon explains. Zack and Deacon, now seniors at Watertown-Mayer High School, have been friends ever since.
Zack and Deacon at a Special Olympics Minnesota Unified event
Watertown-Mayer High School is home to a thriving Unified community. The school has been a Unified Champion School since 2015 and was recently named as a 2024 ESPN Honor Roll School. The commitment of students and faculty throughout the years has led Watertown-Mayer to be a model for other schools throughout Minnesota, and it transforms students’ lives each school year. “It’s so fun to see the friendships and relationships formed through Unified,” says Shawn Perez, Special Olympics Minnesota coach and Unified Champion Schools educator. “It truly changes lives.” Joining Unified programming in high school was a natural progression for Zack and Deacon. After becoming involved, they bonded over their love of Unified sports, from basketball to bocce, flag football to snowshoeing. For the past two years, they have participated in flag football, with Deacon as coach and Zack as the quarterback, fondly known as QBZ. “The past two years, we took home the gold medal in the state tournament!” Zack remembers proudly. While Unified sports have been a key pillar in Zack and Deacon’s journey, their involvement extends beyond the playing field. They have also participated in the Polar Plunge, social inclusion campaigns, leadership opportunities and events through their school’s Unified Club. One of the most popular events is the Red Shed Holiday Bash. “We have a classmate who has a red barn that we decorate for a holiday party each year,” Deacon explains. “One year the party was Elf-themed, and we even had a Buddy the Elf Spaghetti eating contest!” The duo says their Unified Club embodies the spirit of unity and belonging. “Unified brings people together and shows everyone that they are important and have a purpose in life,” Zack says. This is the ultimate goal of Special Olympics Minnesota Unified Champion Schools programming: to bring together people of all abilities, foster friendships and allow students to feel engaged in meaningful ways. Zack and Deacon’s friendship is just one example of the power of inclusion.
Zack and Deacon with Watertown-Mayer High School educator and UCS mentor, Shawn Perez
Zack and Deacon’s Unified leadership roles extend beyond their school. As Co-Vice Presidents for the Special Olympics Minnesota Student Board of Directors, they traveled to Washington, D.C. for the national Capitol Hill Day in February 2024. Capitol Hill Day is an important and impactful event that gives Special Olympics athletes and advocates a chance to share with Members of Congress why the organization is important to them. Zack and Deacon advocated for funding Unified programs. “We met with several congressmen and women from Minnesota and shared our story,” Deacon says. “I thought it was so cool that we could have our voices be heard directly, rather than posting on social media. We could go straight to the source.”
Zack and Deacon with school and SOMN staff in Washington, D.C.
For Zack, the experience was a masterclass in public speaking. “We got to speak in front of other people and open up to them,” Zack says. “It can be nerve-racking to speak in front of an audience, but I think we did a great job. It was inspiring to hear from students from other states and see that they did an awesome job too.” What made the Washington, D.C., trip particularly memorable for Zack and Deacon was the opportunity to be “brothers” for the weekend. While they spend countless hours together in sports practices and meetings throughout the year, they agreed that their strongest bond formed while preparing for Capitol Hill Day, where they reflected on their Special Olympics Minnesota journey. Zack and Deacon both smile as they remember exploring Washington, D.C. together and practicing their speech in their hotel room.
Zack and Deacon exploring Washington, D.C.
Zack and Deacon will graduate in May, but they have dozens of tournaments and events to look forward to before then, including the big basketball season and the remaining Student Board of Directors meetings. Zack is committed to “making sure I have more memories to cherish.” Although it will be hard for Zack to top his favorite Unified memory: taking home the bronze medal in Unified basketball at the 2022 USA Games in Orlando. Placing in USA Games had been a dream for Zack, and he was incredibly proud of his team for accomplishing their goal. This once-in-a-lifetime competition was an “amazing experience for my whole team,” Zack remembers.
Zack competing in the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games in Orlando, Florida
“Before Unified, I wasn’t talkative. I was getting picked on and didn’t feel important in school. I felt like an outcast,” Zack remembers. “But once my parents introduced me to Unified, my life changed completely. I started opening up to people, I started doing sports I never thought I could actually do, and I was making more friends. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Unified.”
Deacon agrees, saying that Unified has taught him a valuable lesson: “Unified has taught me to treat everyone how you want to be treated. It opens your eyes to a whole new world.”
“I’ve learned that my choices matter,” Zack says. “I’ve gained so much from Unified, and it has helped me think more clearly.”
As Zack and Deacon look forward to graduation and the next chapters of their lives, their friendship remains as strong as ever, rooted in the moment they first met on the bus in kindergarten. Though they had a rocky start, their journey shows how true friendships can thrive with the power of inclusion and understanding.
Zack, Deacon and Shawn meeting Special Olympics Chairman of the Board, Tim Shriver
Zack and Deacon recently had the opportunity to talk about their experience with Special Olympics Minnesota as part of KSTP’s “Why We Give” feature.