Maria Sanchez Castaneda

Athlete of the Month

Maria has been a dedicated athlete with Special Olympics Colorado since last year. She was introduced to the program by Nancy Lopez and enjoys the competitive and inclusive environment it offers.

Maria competes in basketball, which is her favorite sport. She enjoys the challenge of the game and loves learning new drills that help her improve her skills on the court. The experience of playing basketball with her teammates has created many great memories.

Beyond sports, Maria enjoys spending her free time listening to music and going live on TikTok to connect with friends. Whether on the basketball court or social media, she loves engaging with others and sharing her enthusiasm for the things she loves.

Congratulations, Maria, on being recognized as the February Athlete of the Month!

Sean Bowers

Coach of the Month

Sean has been coaching Denver North’s Unified Team for four years. He got involved with Unified because there was a need at the school. Although it was unclear how the program was lost at Denver North, students in PE were being under-served. Sean and his team found a way to bring the Unified program back, and they haven’t looked back since!

Throughout his teaching and coaching career, Sean has coached many sports, including football, basketball, and track and field. This experience has provided him with a wide variety of skills and drills that he brings to Unified, challenging students with disabilities while also offering the support and structure they need to feel comfortable taking risks. During the Unified class, students play all sports and go through movement principles, with favorites including bowling, flag football, and basketball. They also enjoy learning about mindfulness, strength, flexibility and balance through yoga.

Sean’s favorite coaching memory is participating in the Unified vs. Staff basketball game during the “Spread the Word” campaign at North. The event is a fun and competitive experience, bringing the whole school together to cheer on the Unified team. It is truly an impactful community event for Denver North.

What Sean enjoys most about teaching the Special Olympics course at North is the students. Rarely do high school students come to class every day ready to learn, challenge themselves, and demonstrate kindness. The students with disabilities embody a true human spirit, free from the distractions of the modern world. They focus on developing interpersonal relationships and improving their physical skills—exactly what Sean hopes for in a PE setting.