For much of his life, Warwick High School sophomore Jackson Diffenderfer has been cheering for others.
For older sister Rylee, a 2020 Warwick graduate who is now playing field hockey at Rider University. For younger brother Joey, a fourth-grader at Warwickâs Kissel Hill Elementary School who has tried multiple sports. For the Warwick boys and girls basketball teams, of whom Jackson is arguably the biggest fan.
This spring, however, the roles have been reversed, as Jackson, 16, has been one of about 30 members of Warwickâs Unified track and field team.
âItâs a confidence-booster for him,â said Josh Diffenderfer, Jacksonâs father. âIt gives him something to look forward to. I canât say for certain, but he, like the other kids, is aware he is not able to do things that other kids are able to do. He wonât articulate that and he never has. But itâs clear that heâs aware of that. So this is a way for him to feel like the mainstream