Colorado Rapids Unified Special Olympics Team Kick-off 12th Season

COMMERCE CITY – The Colorado Rapids Community Relations Department along with select first team players, Front Office executives and the club’s creative Digital Media team rolled out the red carpet at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Monday evening. The Club played host to the 2024 MLS Rapids Colorado Special Olympics players, partners, coaching staff, and guardians. 

The Unified Team’s General Manager, Caitlin Kinser and the Rapids Senior Director of Community Impact and Events spared no limits to have the special guests feel on top of the world. Fifteen returning players and two Homegrown athletes signed their contracts in the stadium’s Summit Club and Chairman’s Suite in similar fashion to their professional counterparts. 

Rapids’ Cole Bassett, Moïse Bombito and the always effusive, Lalas Abubakar were on hand to welcome the Unified Team members, and later cheer them on during their first practice session on the stadium’s pitch.

Special Olympics Colorado and the Colorado Rapids Soccer Club have partnered for 12 seasons. Annually, both organizations form a Unified Team, which is made up of volunteer peer-player partners from the greater Colorado community and Special Olympics athletes who try-out to make the competitive team.

The partners help create an environment of full inclusion on and off the field and assist the Olympians participate to their fullest potential during practices, matches and at social events. 

The mission of the cooperative program is to provide Special Olympics athletes with top-level training and competitive experiences and memories, in addition, provide MLS fans, nationwide, the opportunity to witness firsthand, the talents and abilities of Special Olympic soccer players.

Following the event and last minute contract dealings, the team hustled over to first team’s changing room where they were given their kits, pro model boots and life-size images of themselves. Delighted guardians, family members and guests watched on and captured hundreds of memorable photographs.

The Unified Team’s coaching staff then held a 60-minute training session and short scrimmage. Abubakar, Bombito and Bassett offer pointers and applause throughout the practice. Abubakar often shouted, “This is my team!”

Coaches Molly Underly and Jonny Stephens concluded the field activities by calling the team together in a circle, where each member expressed what they were most grateful for. The evening ended on a celebratory note back up in the Summit Club. Participants dinned together and watched the Colorado Avalanche defeat the Winnipeg Jets in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Unified Team’s schedule currently consists of three matches:

At Real Salt Lake on May 18. At home versus the New York Red Bulls on July 13, and at FC Dallas on August 31. The team will fly on the Rapids’ charter aircraft to Utah and Texas.

Colorado Rapids Unified 17-Player Team Roster and Player’s Affiliation:

Colin Underly, Sophomore at Broomfield HS.

Rylan Krems, Graduate of Horizon HS. Works at Children’s Hospital. 

Colton Rice, Graduate of Brighton HS. Works at Ace Hardware.

Louie Persico, Junior at Legacy HS.

Arturo Lopez, Graduate of Rangeview HS. Works at King Soopers.

Bryan Kratzer, Junior at Wheat Ridge HS.

Reed Wangerin, Junior at Holy Family HS.

Katie Wagner, Graduate of Horizon HS. Works Grandview HS, Nuggets Hype Squad.

Michael Shumake, Graduate of Rangeview HS.Works at King Soopers.

Chase Smith, Junior at Stargate HS.

Scotty Stephens. Works at Chick-Fil-A.

Aiden Ramirez, Graduate of Rangeview HS Works at Howdy’s Ice Cream and Soccer City.

Trevor Walsh, Junior at Horizon HS.

Jordan Obernesser, Sophomore at Golden HS.

Hayden Hawley, Junoir at Horizon HS.

Jordan Hirschhorn, Senior at Broomfield HS.

Shelby Raines, Graduate of Horizon HS. Works at King Soopers.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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