Athlete Highlight: Amaia Kitzman
What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
My favorite memory from the 2024 season was making friends, learning new skills and improving those new skills that I learned. I found friends that I can be myself around
What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
My favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team is playing soccer. Soccer has always been my favorite sport to do and being on the Switchbacks has made me like it even more
What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
I got interested in a really close friend of mine. She thought it would be a great opportunity besides Special Olympics so we looked into and it has made a great impact on me
What are 3 goals you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- Making a goal
- Getting better at my position
- Being a great role model to to new team members that join the Switchbacks Team
What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
Riding my horse, Skateboarding when it is not snowing, playing with my dog Kota and hanging out with friends
What are three things that you are looking forward to in the 2025 season?
1. Improving my skills even more
2. Traveling
3. Helping new members
Athlete Highlight: Tyler Schwartz
What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
My favorite memory of 2024 was defending the I-25 Cup against the Rapids Unified Team
What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
My motivation for joining the Switchbacks Unified Team was to make friends, learn and adapt new skills in life, pass them along, and learn to promote sportsmanship and friendship.
What are three goals that you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
Three goals I want to achieve in the near future are
- Make at least one career goal
- Travel More
- And Lose at least 20 pounds
What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
My favorite hobbies outside of soccer are playing video games and petting my dogs, and I’ve recently taken an interest in learning how to cook
What are three things you are looking forward to in the 2025 season?
The three things that I’m looking forward to this year are and spending more time with my family and relatives. Taking home the gold in Grand Junction. Wishing my mother a Happy Birthday on June 4.
Coach Highlight: Mike Reavey
What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
My favorite memory from the 2024 season has to be having my brother, sister-in-law and niece come out to watch us play in Sacramento and my brother’s father and mother-in-law as well out there. It was great for my family to finally experience the joy of our Unified Team in person.
What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
My favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team is just the family atmosphere and love that we all bring and the joy on the faces of our athletes as we take these magical trips to different locations and get to experience new things together.
What are three things you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
Three goals I have for future seasons are for us to travel to new locations and have new teams to play against. I would love to have one of our games broadcasted live on YouTube or something similar. I would also love to have the mayor of Colorado Springs and the Governor of Colorado come out to one of our matches.
How do you define success in athletics?
I would define success in athletics as giving it your all (win or lose) just like the athlete’s oath says “let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”, so just trying your hardest and having fun while doing (win or lose) is being successful.
What are you looking forward to in the 2025 season?
Regarding this season, I am looking forward to traveling to Wisconsin for the first time with the team. Looking forward to seeing goals from many different athletes. I am also looking forward to our three home games and trying to pack Weidner Field to support our team and support out mission of showing what these athletes can do when given a chance.
Peer Partner Highlight: Ashley Luce
What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
Watching the Team win the I-25 Cup
What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
Getting to invest in the growth of athletes and creating all of the wonderful friendships with everyone on the team
What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
I have loved soccer for a really long time and I’ve also loved working with people with disabilities. It was a wonderful opportunity to combine both of those passions of mine.
What are three goals you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- Better Fitness
- More Travel Opportunities
- Make More Friends
What are your favorite hobbies outside of soccer?
Outside of soccer, I like to read, play with my cats Butters and Ember, bake desserts and to try to play hockey with my husband and son.
How would you define success in athletics?
I define success in athletics as constantly growing. There is always something you can improve on whether it is ball skills or fitness or mentality. It is important to give yourself grace and know you won’t be perfect all of the time, but you have to try and give it the best you have, even if your best one day isn’t the same as your best another day.
What are three things you are looking forward to about the 2025 season?
I am looking forward to spending time with friends on the team and everyone means so much to me.
Traveling to a new place. I have never been to Wisconsin and I’m so excited that we keep expanding
Getting to play with new people, I love that our team brings in new athletes every year to boost our team.
Peer Partner Highlight: Michael Russ
What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
My favorite memory was go-karting with the team in Omaha
What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
I love being able to help the athletes show off their skills that they’ve developed through hard work
What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
My older brothers used to be on the Switchbacks Unified Team, so once I became old enough, I knew I wanted to join
What are three goals that you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- I want us to get a win on the East Coast
- I want to make an assist to Yariv in a game
- I want to make a header
What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
Outside of soccer, I love to play basketball and tennis and spend time with my family. I also love to write songs.
How would you define success in athletics?
Winning is definitely up there, but real success is all the improvement that is made through hard work and dedication.
What are some things that you are looking forward to in 2025?
I look forward to watching everyone grow in the game of soccer, traveling with the team and winning all of our games.
Meet Our Partners:
Sponsor Highlight: Fat Sully’s Pizza
Sponsor Highlight: Fat Sully’s Pizza
Atomic Cowboy is a beloved Colorado brand, home to Denver Biscuit Co. by day and Fat Sully’s Pizza by night. It started in 2004 when founder Drew Shader transformed a small East Colfax bar into a neighborhood favorite serving late-night pizza and mile-high biscuit sandwiches. Known for its 26” NY-style pizzas, award-winning burgers, and craft cocktails, it gained national attention through shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Today, Atomic Cowboy has grown to nine locations across Colorado and Kansas City.
We are proud to sponsor the Special Olympics Switchbacks Unified Team because we believe that all athletes should have the opportunity to participate and compete in athletics. Atomic Cowboy is delighted to be part of Olympic City USA and support all athletes in our community.
New Sponsor Corporate Partner Highlight: Diversus
Diversus Health, originally founded over 150 years ago as The Springs Relief Society, is a leading provider of mental and behavioral health services in Colorado. Today, it supports the state’s most vulnerable populations with personalized care, including counseling, psychiatric, crisis, and addiction services. With locations in El Paso, Park, and Teller counties, Diversus Health serves clients across Colorado. Our services include:
- Counseling
- PSYCHIATRIC
- ADDICTION
- CRISIS
Get started today: Same day access
Call or Walk in to Get Started
We are here to begin your journey to recovery whenever you’re ready to get started. Simply walk in or call in, and we’ll start the intake process right then, no appointment needed. We offer behavioral health services, mental health services, psychiatric services, and more to our patients.
Call 719-572-6100 or visit our Ruskin location at 220 Ruskin Dr. Monday through Thursday between 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M., or Friday 8:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.
