Inclusiveness on the Field: LINKball

By Allan Tompkins

An image of everyone involved in one of the LINKball games on the Columbus footbal field (Photo Credit: Mrs. Gonzalez-Rojas)

The LINK club’s efforts toward creating a more inclusive society for those with special needs have achieved yet another success with the recent support for its kickball league — a new club favorite. Initially proposed by then freshman, now a sophomore, Lucas Rojas, the event debuted in spring 2025, returned in the fall and most recently concluded its season Feb. 22, 2026.

This biannual event mixes special needs participants with teenage volunteers into teams that promote a new concept of communal activities that doesn’t require any group to stand on the sidelines. Spanning four to five weeks, each season consists of weekly games on Sundays that go from 9 to 11 a.m. 

Every Sunday opens with prayer, social time and warmups, a game, a water break, a second game and a final period of socializing. Each season concludes with a championship game and a closing ceremony honoring each participant with their very own award that recognizes their development as a team player rather than a raw performance. 

Despite its growth, LINKball was once just an idea in Lucas’ mind. After observing how normal it was to isolate those with special needs from others through separate schools and activities, he realized that there were more barriers than bridges being offered toward promoting inclusion for all. Inspired by this, Lucas started to search for ways to change this stereotype.

It wasn’t until he actively participated in an inclusive charity kickball tournament for adults with special needs that he decided to replicate it here at Columbus. Except, rather than applying labels to differentiate those with special needs from those volunteering, Lucas sought to place everyone on the same playing field by creating an environment where everyone is simply a teammate. 

An image of a team of participants and volunteers huddling before a game (Photo Credit: Ms. Gonzalez-Rojas)

“A lot of times, service can feel like something you do ‘for’ someone else. I wanted LINKball to be something you do ‘with’ people…where both sides walk away changed,” said Rojas. 

The event’s launch was initially met with uncertainty about participation. However, the original four teams that started out grew to six in no time and, soon enough, a waitlist was required for eager volunteers wanting to take part in the magic. During the first games, initial awkwardness was short-lived after genuine connections began developing between teammates who treated every moment like it was the best. 

As for how Lucas received it, the impact his event made was evident at the end of each game when parents would come up to him without fail and explain how grateful they were that LINKball allowed their child to really feel like they were part of a team. In those moments, the problem Lucas set out to address was being directly acknowledged. 

Mrs. Nunez, the mom of special needs participant Zac and his twin brother and LINK volunteer Oliver, is just one of the many parents directly impacted by LINKball’s success. Because her two sons have long had that barrier due to their separate abilities, LINKball has allowed her son Oliver to embrace his brother openly. 

“Watching my twins play side by side has been one of the most meaningful experiences of our lives…LINKball is more than a program. It is a community. It is a lifeline,” said Mrs. Nunez. 

Ms. Khia, the principal of Great Heights Academy, a K-12 school serving students with special needs, also recognized the influence LINKball has had on her students.

“Through LINKball, many of my students have experienced something truly special: the opportunity to be part of a team…Lucas has created a space where every child feels seen, included, and celebrated,” said Ms. Khia. 

Ultimately, despite the many obstacles in the way of making Lucas’ dream come true, the payoff that LINKball has created is enough to make him want to do it over and over again, which is exactly what he’s planning to do.

Although the spring season recently concluded in February, the fall season is already being planned and an extension of LINKball is already underway in the form of an inclusive pickleball league that looks to further the connections developed between teammates.

“It is not so much about what happens on the field; it is about the relationships formed and the affirmation that we are stronger together, not in spite of our differences, but because of them,” said LINK moderator Mrs. Gonzalez-Rojas.

While much is still to come, one thing is certain: Lucas has left an indelible mark on countless families with his event. Accomplishing all that he has in a mere two years of being a student at Columbus shows that LINK’s goals are in good hands. At the forefront of his cause is a pure, empathetic passion towards those with special needs and is something that is truly making a difference.

“Sometimes we overthink things, we stress the small details; but what people really need is for you to just show up as yourself and give your heart,” said Rojas, “That’s where real connections happen.”