As a four-year soccer letterer and a three-year baseball letterer, there’s no doubt Portage senior Cody Simmons puts his heart into sports. Now, by spearheading a new organization at Portage called Champions Together, he is spreading that heart to others.
Champions together, an Indiana High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics in Indiana collaboration, “promotes servant leadership among student-athletes while changing their lives as well as the lives of those with intellectual disabilities,” according to information provided by Simmons. They focus on track and basketball, but there is also options in the program to include swimming, soccer, and softball.
“I have always loved to work with kids,” Simmons said. “I have always loved sports, and I thought that kids with disabilities should be able to also.”
Athletic Director Kelly Bermes introduced Simmons to the program, and from there he began playing with participants and selling Champions Together bracelets and baskets. He helps Portage become a Unified School within Champions Together.
To raise more money, Simmons said there will also be a Champions Together concessions stand set up at a fishing exposition in the high school’s field house the last weekend in February.
More than anything else, Simmons loves the whole experience, “but the best part is when [Champions Together participants] make a basket and they are just so happy and they throw their hands up in the air and yell. It's just great.”
For Simmons, Champions Together is all about making a difference.
“Even though I might not make a difference on everyone, I hope that I can make a difference on other people, [and] they have made a difference in me.”
When he is not helping with Champions Together, Simmons helps out with Challenger Baseball through Little League and plays baseball and soccer.
Simmons is the varsity goalie for the high school’s soccer team.
“[I] started when I was a little kid because it was my first sport I could play,” Simmons said. “And then got into the game and realized that I could not use my hands, so I just became the goalie.”
Despite being able to use his hands, Simmons doesn’t believe being goalie is any easier than the other positions on the team.
“It’s either you’re the hero or the game is on you,” Simmons said.
In baseball, Simmons plays shortstop.
“I have played baseball my whole life and I just love the game,” Simmons said.
After high school, Simmons hopes to play college baseball and study Special Education. He has not yet picked a college.