{"id":6639,"date":"2026-07-21T14:35:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=6639"},"modified":"2026-07-21T14:35:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:35:15","slug":"winthrop-soccer-team-with-intellectually-impaired-players-brings-light-to-the-beautiful-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=6639","title":{"rendered":"Winthrop soccer team with intellectually impaired players brings light to \u2018the beautiful game\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

ROCK HILL, S.C. (WJZY) \u2013 The world calls it \u201cthe beautiful game.\u201d<\/p>\n

At Winthrop University, the real beauty of soccer<\/strong> is a constant revelation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo basically, it\u2019s a game of keep-away,\u201d assistant coach Laurin Uptegrove explains to the Winthrop Inspire team during practice. \u201cYou can pass it anywhere you want. You can pass it to whoever you want.\u201d<\/p>

Read more SC drug agents charged following \u2018unwarranted\u2019 investigation<\/a><\/p>\n

The Winthrop-based squad is a new team in the Inspire Soccer League<\/strong>, which is geared toward players who are intellectually impaired.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s very gratifying to see the happiness that it brings to the players,\u201d says coach Mia Gray. \u201cThe sense of independence and the kind of a normal opportunity is kind of refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winthrop Inspire will compete all over the country in places like Knoxville, Tennessee, and Spokane, Washington. They\u2019ll play at home in Rock Hill on Winthrop\u2019s Eagle Field the weekend of Nov. 20.<\/p>

Read more LIV Golf suffers setback with Asian Tour joining new alliance with European and PGA tours<\/a><\/p>\n

When you meet them, you\u2019re likely to smile.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Steven Heimerle has played soccer since he was 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cI very very enjoy teamwork,\u201d says Heimerle.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really came out of his shell with soccer,\u201d his dad told Queen City News.<\/p>\n

The name of the game is inclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of skill and competition,\u201d said Gray.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

As they move the ball around, it generates positive energy.<\/p>\n

Looking for more positive news in your day? Check out The Bright Side \u2600\ufe0f<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cPassing the ball, shooting, sometimes getting an assist to my teammates; that\u2019s the best feeling, giving your teammates a score,\u201d said Zachary Burkholder of Concord.<\/p>\n

Watching them in action should give us all goals and maybe that\u2019s the beauty of it.<\/p>

Read more Murder mystery comes to life in Raleigh Little Theatre\u2019s \u2018Clue (High School Edition)\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m passionate about soccer,\u201d Burkholder says.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Winthrop-based squad is a new team geared toward players who are intellectually impaired.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nWinthrop soccer team with intellectually impaired players brings light to \u2018the beautiful game\u2019 - Raleigh Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=6639\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winthrop soccer team with intellectually impaired players brings light to \u2018the beautiful game\u2019 - 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