Students across the state are claiming victory after the State Board of Regents adopted a new rule back in December to allow students with intellectual disabilities to compete in Unified Sports for the entirety of their time in high school, or until they're 21 years old.

Up until now, students aged-out of Unified Sports when they turned 19.

But that wasn't good enough for Zachary Kilga from Clarence High School.

Since last fall, Zachary and his mother Margaret Smeeding fought the good fight and worked to get that rule change, which they did along with other Unified Sport coaches.

Tuesday was Zachary’s first bowling match back since the rule change.

“So I had to watch them bowl and this year I get to bowl, so I won’t have to worry about the sidelines,” said Zachary. “It’s big. It’s big for me and my family. I’m happy.”

“He was really upset he couldn’t play and he was trying to encourage his teammates anyway and keep track of scores even though he couldn’t play,” said his mother. “But today, his eyes are bright, he’s happy as can be. It’s a great day.”

He’s one of six students at Clarence High School that wouldn’t have been able to compete this year. It would have been Zachary’s second year of sitting out. But now, he doesn’t have too.

“It’s all about inclusion and this is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a coach in my 23 years at Clarence,” said Beth Brawn-Celotto, Unified Sports coach at the school.

The next season is basketball, which begins in March.