Athlete highlight: Daniel Mayabb
I like to play with the team because there are different levels of skills on the team and we learn from each other
What was your favorite memory from past Switchbacks Unified Team seasons?
Playing in a tournament against the Colorado Rapids to get the I-25 cup was amazing
How would you define success in Unified Athletics?
Open up talking to each other coming to practice’s and working hard at each and every practice. Success is that we show up on time, try our best and being prepared for what’s next in our games
What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
Watching the games from the big boys got me interested in wanting to join Switchbacks Unified
What are three goals that you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- Would like to see more traveling
- Beating Union Omaha and Forward Madison
- Learning more goalie skills
- Focusing on my kicking skills and aiming skills
What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
My favorite hobbies and things to do are auto racing, Going to Switchbacks games, playing basketball, bowling and doing Special Olympics
How would you define success in Unified Athletics?
Positive attitudes, pork and ship and having fun building relationships and team skills and no drama
Peer Partner Highlight: Ethan Luce
What was your favorite memory from the 2025 season?
Traveling to Wisconsin for the first time
What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
I love getting to learn and grow in the world of soccer
What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
I got into soccer and the Unified Team because of my wife Ashley who is also a peer partner
What are three goals that you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- I would like to work on learning new positions
- I want to work on my touches and passing skills
- I want to see the team continue to improve and keep winning
What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
I love hockey, snowboarding, and ice skating with my son Leo
How would you define success in Unified athletics?
For me it’s not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these folks be the best version of themselves on and off the field
What are three things that you are looking forward to about the 2026 season?
- Hopefully more travel
- Seeing the team grow more
- Getting to play soccer with my wife (Ashley Luce #2)
Meet Our Partners:
Sponsor Highlight: Optimal Wellness Center (Dr. John Kucera)
Optimal Wellness Center offers a holistic approach to family healthcare that integrates conventional medicine with nutritional dietary and herbal medicine to improve and optimize health. We offer education in self-care and wellness, bioidentical hormone replacement for women and men, IV therapies and holistic care of the autism spectrum. As our motto states, our goal is: “Integrating nature and science for a lifestyle of health”. We decided to become involved with the Switchbacks Special Olympics Soccer team because many of our years playing soccer made it clear that it can easily be an inclusive sport where all levels of skill and experience can participate. We also grew to appreciate the efforts of Yariv and his family to make this endeavor a success.
