Following Sporting Kansas City’s 2-0 victory over FC Dallas on Sunday, Special Olympics Unified teams took the field at Children’s Mercy Park for an Exchange Match.
Special Olympics Kansas City and Special Olympics Texas battled over two 15-minute halves, with Special Olympics Texas ultimately earning a 3-0 win. Pre-game introductions, warm-ups, and a National Anthem performance gave both teams a professional level game experience for the exchange match. After the game, a commemorative ceremony ensued with Sporting KC Defender Kevin Ellis presenting each participant with a medal.
The Special Olympics Kansas City team featured players from both Special Olympics Kansas and Special Olympics Missouri, marking the organizations’ first time teaming up for a match. In 2013, MLS and Special Olympics partnered to promote awareness, respect, acceptance and inclusion of Special Olympics athletes throughout the soccer community. Through this partnership, the Unified Sports exchange program was created to unite people with and without intellectual disabilities.
When asked the importance of programs such as this, Clint Armistead Director of Sports for Special Olympics Kansas noted that, "Not only is this a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone, but for many of our athletes, Special Olympics is their only opportunity for physical fitness and socialization. In addition, this is an incredible opportunity for the general public to witness and experience the true power of sports- the power to break down barriers, the power to strive together, to experience joy and to showcase talents.”
Special Olympics Kansas City Unified Team: Joah Hickel, Demetrius Palmer, Jonathan Paez, Javier Torres, Jenna McDonnel, Joshua Mullins, Tyler Melhorn, Reece Godard, Jax Leal, Walter Hayes, Kris Greene, Brittany McNary, Landon Vahle, Tommy Wagner, Shannon Michuda, Ryan Prothe
Coaches: David Vincent, Travis Ruble, Sara Bachand, Clint Armistead
Special Olympics Texas Unified Team: Allen Domer, Chris Gracian, Erika Johnson, Laurence Fairchild, Matt Cummings, Gracie Hunt, Roy Bayona, Zachory Rodgers, Douglas Sullivan, Zachary Parcher, Cara Hayden, Yousef Malallah, Cari Freeman, Lauren Frank, Joey Cummings
Coaches: Cindy Schroeder, Kyle Schroeder, Craig Schroeder
