When most think of Mustangs, they think about the iconic Ford Pony car or the free-roaming wild horses. But every Sunday, the Bucks County community shows that a mustang has a much more powerful meaning than you’d think.

 The Challenger program, operating out of Bucks County, Pa, takes pride in being Mustangs. To be a Mustang refers to participating in an inclusive sport that focuses on ability over disability by designing a community for athletes with disabilities. 

Sandi Spong, an NHS (Neshaminy High School) instructor who helps with the Neshaminy Employability Transition Skills (NETS) program, is the founder of the Challenger Baseball program.

But before baseball, starting in 2008, Challenger football began. The senior class wanted to do a graduation project, so the administration decided to turn it into a community program.

Spong gave an example of what many neurotypical kids think before joining the program. The organization helps everyone involved; it builds relationships, teaches leadership, and promotes acceptance. 

“Why am I complaining that I can’t catch a ball or throw a ball,” Spong demonstrated. “Here’s a student who loves to play and struggles, but yet they’re still doing it and smiling, so it developed bonds and friendships. So [football] started in 2008, and it kept growing and growing and growing, and then in 2016 I branched off and started the Challenger baseball program.”

Spong is a dedicated educator with 25 years of experience working with disabled students. Her extensive background includes serving as a learning support teacher and a co-teacher, where she assisted with modifications for students with IEPs and 504 plans.

When participating in Challenger, it is hard not to get to know people like Spong and other staff. But the people you couldn’t miss were Bob and Joan Wargo, a lovely couple loyal to being Mustangs. Bob ‘Coach’ Wargo was the proud founder of the Challenger Flag Football and Cheerleading program. On March 11, 2026, Bob Wargo peacefully passed away.

“Bob’s always a coach,” Spong reminisces,  “he had a big impact because he had a passion.” Coach dedicated his life to inspiring and encouraging young learners. Wargo’s passion continues to grow and live through everyone involved with the program.

 A program that once started with 15-20 athletes is now at 50-60 participants. Growing at this magnitude shows that Challenger highlights the groundbreaking power of accessible sports. What began as a small group of individuals has flourished into a thriving organization, proving that the desire for connection and playing sports knows no bounds. As the numbers triple, Challenger’s mission remains the same. They ensure that every child has a team to call their own.

Built around creating a positive environment, Challenger creates a space where everyone is welcome and every athlete can thrive. NHS’s varsity softball coach, Sarah Martoccio, oversees the softball section of the Challenger program and comments on how the participation of athletes in the Challenger program affects them.

 “[Challenger brings a] spark of enjoyment and fun back that can be lost in high school sports,” the softball coach expressed. 

The program fosters inclusion, teamwork, and confidence that allows participants to feel supported. Challenger reminds participants that sports don’t just offer competition, but also connection.

Similarly, NHS’s freshman baseball coach Benjamin Raab has parallel views on the program, emphasizing character development and connection among all members and aiming to make a difference in the Neshaminy community. Participants consistently push themselves and others to grow. 

“You can show them that people care about them as people and then want them to grow and succeed,” Raab commented. 

Although the turnout has been higher than in previous years, Raab “would love to see a higher turnout of volunteers”.

Raab feels that with more involvement, the movement could reach more athletes and strengthen the program’s impact. However, the program is already inspiring more compassion and inclusion in the community. 

This connection between volunteers and athletes highlights a central truth of the program: “You know, you’re different, and I’m different,” Spong noted. “It doesn’t matter what we know, who we are, we just work differently, so it’s kind of cool.”

Francis “Frankie” Walls is an NHS student in the NETS program. Walls has been participating in Challenger football during the fall and baseball during the spring for about four years. 

“I think everybody knows me now in the hallways.” Walls exclaimed, showing his passion for the program. When the Playwickian asked how Walls enjoyed the program, he immediately started to shine. “I work hard, I think [Challenger] is great, I like it, and it’s the best I can do.”

Addie Pennisi, a junior at NHS, has been participating in Challenger since her freshman year and has had a meaningful impact on her life. She has always loved working with kids, especially since her cousin has special needs, which makes the program even more personal to her. 

“You just have a joy showing up each weekend,” Pennisi stated. In addition, she feels that Challenger has helped her emotionally and mentally. As a softball player, she knows the kids are looking up to her and cheering her on, which motivates her to always give her best effort on the field. 

But being a mustang is more about a name on a jersey; it’s about a legacy of belonging that keeps growing. In Bucks County, the word “Mustang” has taken on a new definition. While the program continues to honor the founder Bob Wargo, his spirit proceeds to live on every time a player like Frankie scores a touchdown or Addie steps onto the field to help an athlete. Also, through the hard work of coaches and educators, they show that when you prioritize ability over disability, you don’t just build a team of kids who play sports together, you build a family.