Colorado Rapids Unified Team: Winning on and off the Field (2024)

EDITORIAL – Scotty Stephens. Jordan Obernesser. Bryan Kratzer. You probably never heard these names. No, they’re not rumored signings for the first team this summer. They’re members of the Unified program at Colorado Rapids. Last month, the Colorado Rapids Unified Team played their season opener on the road in the Rocky Mountain Cup at Real Salt Lake. With the entire first team on the sidelines rooting for them, the Rapids Unified Team got a 1-0 win. The real wins for the program and its Athletes are coming off the field.

The Colorado Rapids Unified Team in partnership with Special Olympics Colorado is in its 12th year. The program brings together Special Olympic Athletes between the ages of 16-25 and Unified Partners from the community to play matches against other Unified Teams and partake in other community activities to grow as people. There is an application process to be part of the team each year. They have held tryouts in past seasons.

Creating an experience, bringing joy to all:

Their season kicked off on April 25 with the annual “contract extension” event. The 17-player team got the full experience, with the first team locker room set up for their first training session. Fifteen players are returning from the 2023 team, including Scotty Stephens who turned into an assistant coach due to an injury last year.

“The locker room thing is something that I love. We allow four teams to use our first team locker room: Our first team, the U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Teams, and our Unified Team. If there’s a game between two other countries, they have to use different locker rooms,” Rapids President Pádraig Smith told Burgundy Wave.

“I will never forget the emotions I felt the first time I was involved, seeing those Athletes come into our locker room. All the name plates had their names on it. The lockers had the full kits. It was a special moment seeing the joy and the excitement on the Athletes’ faces. Looking at their families and seeing what it meant to them. It is powerful beyond words.”

Unified Team head coach Molly Underly has been involved with the program since 2015.

“My biggest joy is a combination of two things: Watching the Athletes and Partners grow together. Aside from that, watching the Partners who’ve never done anything with Unified Sports fall into their own, grown, thrive, and take on other opportunities within Special Olympics,” she told Burgundy Wave, from the club’s charter flight back from Salt Lake City.

Many of the Athletes and Partners have returned to the Unified Team. It’s not uncommon for members to spend several years with the team. Alumni have gone on to other Unified Sports programs. Programs like this are growing around the country, not just in MLS. Last year, 26 MLS teams had a Unified Team. Colorado Springs Switchbacks have a team now. There is no I-25 Derby scheduled for this year. Hopefully next year.

Opportunities help Athletes grow, Partners become better allies:

One of the most wholesome aspects of the Unified Team is seeing the players grow, elevate each other, and build friendships. The Unified Team has gotten the first team treatment on several occasions, not just getting to use the nice big locker room.

Scotty Stephens was Colorado’s representative when MLS debuted the 25th anniversary kits at New York Fashion Week in 2020. You’d think Cole Bassett would have been selected for the runway. The Rapids were the only club to send a Unified Team Athlete for that event.

For their road games, they have joined the first team on the charter flights, where seating is assigned. First team and technical staff are towards the front, spread out. The Unified Team is in the back of the plane like the cool kids, three to a row, having fun with each other. During the club’s recent trip to Salt Lake, they had their own charter bus for the weekend. They’re treated like any other team within the organization.

Beyond the perks of the games, jerseys, and travel accommodations, the platform allows the Athletes and Partners to bond and grow.

“We have become the stakeholders. It’s allowing others to come alongside us and embrace the strengths and difference that people with special needs will make in their lives. Their abilities can far surpass what we give them credit for or what we feel as a society they’re capable of,” said Underly.

Growing up in the 90s, the R-Word was just a regular insult, thrown out in schools and public without care. Programs like Special Olympics work to show society, especially those would discriminate against the disabled, that these are human beings capable of doing great things.

Underly preaches that it gives the Athletes a platform to prove to themselves that they’re not defined by their disability. It helps the Partners become better ambassadors.

“I would definitely say they become better allies. Better mentors and better people,” the coach said with pride. “Lead the charge to them making a huge difference in the community.”

“When you go on these away trips, I say to the athletes, ‘you’re representing this club, you’re representing the state of Colorado. More than anything, you’re having fun with your teammates.’ They take it seriously. They want to win. They all talk about the friendships that they’ve built and how important that is to them. The spirit among the group, it’s incredible to see it grow. We had C38 do a tifo a couple of years ago. It puts a smile on your face,” Smith added.

Underly has a clear recommendation for this curious or even skeptical about the Unified Team:

“Coming out and watching is really powerful and special. That’s the first place to start for people. What the Partners and Athletes bring together is a feel good moment. See that passion and self confidence come alive through Unified Sports.”

Support from the first team:

For starters, Lalas Abubakar is the Unified Team’s ultra. He attended their first practice back in April. He regularly cheered when an Athlete made a play during drills, yelling “This is my team!”

On the charter flight to Salt Lake, he moved to the back of the plane to chill with them, rather than be with his teammates. Historically, there’s a few players who hang around for Unified games after home matches. Last year, it was usually, Lalas, Diego Rubio, Cole Bassett, maybe another Homegrown.

“It’s such a good program. Far and away the best thing we do as a club,” Smith added. “It puts you in a good mood no matter what’s going on in life. There’s a lot of players who’ve been us with a few years. You see their interactions with our senior players and the way they interact.”

This year, it’s been the entire team. It’s great when MLS teams have a few players who champion the cause and form bonds with kids on the Unified team. It’s another level when after a crushing loss in the derby, Chris Armas and the entire team is out there to celebrate their win.

“It has been fantastic. All of the first team players this morning met up with our team and did a team walk. It’s so special to see the camaraderie and the friendships. The players really celebrating our team has been really powerful. I love that we don’t miss a beat together. That’s special. After the game, the entire team and coaching staff were out celebrating and cheering us on. We’re flying on charters with them. They’re putting a face and name. Our athletes and partners look up to the Rapids players. Developing those relationships has been really special,” Smith elaborated.

“If you’re not inspired but what they do, you’re not focused on the right thing.”

Smith went to the back of the plane before takeoff to address the Unified Team, expressing how excited the club was to have them here. The flight home landed at DIA after 1 am. Smith was sat in the front row, but waited to shake hands with everyone on the plane as they got off. That’s what they mean to the people at the club.

Underly jokes that while the Unified Team isn’t about wins and losses, she likes to win. She even discourages Partners from scoring goals, so as to give the Athletes the focus. Every once in awhile, a Partner scores a golazo and she lets it slide.

“As I told the team before the game, when we have fun, play together, and work hard, those are wins for me. Those don’t have to show on the scoreboard.”

Kratzer’s strike proved to be the difference maker. The Unified Team took a step towards retaining their Rocky Mountain Cup. The first team celebrated their wins (literal and metaphorical) as a tonic for their loss. Most importantly, everyone had fun and grew as people.

Former Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath has won RSL’s Humanitarian of the Year for his work with RSL’s Unified Team. He stayed till 11 pm to mentor the team after a loss and provide perspective.

“It’s the best. You see how much these kids care. They feel the same way we do after they lose. The amount of joy these kids have playing the beautiful game is incredible. A lot of them have tough hardships. To use soccer as their outlet is awesome.”

On June 22, the club held Support Local Night. This included merch for sale and with each purchase $5 went towards Special Olympics Colorado. On July 13, the Unified Team will play their only home match of 2024 against RBNY Unified. Their final match of the season is August 31 at FC Dallas Unified.

Jordan Obernesser: Cancer Survivor and Unified Team Partner.

Jordan is in his first year as a Partner with the Unified Team. He’s also a member of the club’s Rapids Amputee Soccer Team. In 2022, he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of cancer that starts in the bone. He eventually had to have his right knee amputated, but he beat cancer. He now plays soccer on his left foot with two forearm crutches.

The club supported him and his family through this difficult time. He’s now playing soccer again, living his life and “make it make sense” as his mom would put it. On Soccer For All Night, he played in the halftime mini game with the club’s Amputee Soccer Team. He even scored the first goal.

Jordan’s just another profound example of the wins this program has for member of the Rapids Community who just need an opportunity to become the best version of themselves.

Main Photo Credit: Colorado Rapids

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