Joe Morrow:
Q: What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
My favorite memory of the 2024 season was meeting my new teammates, making new friends, traveling with the team, and getting to be on NBC KOAA 5 news.
Q: What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
My favorite part of being on the Switchbacks Unified team is learning new things and learning from my great coaches.
Q: How would you define success in athletics?
I define success by being a good athlete who participates and learns from others, being a good teammate who puts forward his best on and off the field.
Q: What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
My high school coach, Coach Chad, invited me to play!
Q: What are three goals you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- For myself are to keep fit and healthy
- To continue to train hard
- Become a better player!
Q: What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
My favorite hobbies outside of soccer are playing basketball, running, and reading.
Q: What are three things you are looking forward to for the 2025 season?
What I’m looking forward to in the 2025 season is getting to know the new players, traveling, and working together as teammates.
Stephen Liles:
Q: What was your favorite memory from the 2024 season?
My favorite moment was on my birthday last year, scoring a goal for the team!
Q: What is your favorite part about being on the Switchbacks Unified Team?
Just being around all the coaches/players, being able to travel, and being able to just be a part of a great organization
Q: How would you define success in athletics?
Going through the Special Olympics have helped me grow in my years of success!
Q: What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
What got me started in playing for the Switchbacks unified team was just being around good people and good coaches! I wanted to be a part of an organization that had just won a championship! It makes me want to try something new and go above and beyond, not just for the organization of the Switchbacks but for the organization of the Colorado Springs Special Olympics. Being able to just be a part of a good coaching staff that can help us grow and peer partners who helped me never give up and kept pushing me and kept pushing me to get better and better every year every every week every game last year
Q: What are three goals you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- Become a better athlete
- Become a better player for years to come
- Continue to grow and get better at soccer
Q: What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
Play sports with the Rocky Mountain Ninjas and with Special Olympics
Q: What are three things you are looking forward to for the 2025 season?
- Being able to go to different places in the United States looking forward to this year
- Being more of a player and scoring more goals and being more of a support for people on the team
- I am just so excited for this year I know how much it means to the organization of the switchbacks to have us around and to support us and for us to support them
Peer Partner Carley Connelly:
Q: How would you define success in athletics?
I define success in athletics as always having a positive attitude and working your hardest regardless of if you are winning or losing. It is important to learn from your mistakes/losses in order to grow as an athlete and a person
Q: What got you interested in joining the Switchbacks Unified Team?
I first heard about the Switchbacks Unified Team from my friend Yariv! I played soccer all through high school and thought that this team would be a great opportunity for me to continue playing soccer while also becoming more involved with the Special Olympics and meeting new people.
Q: What are three goals you would like to achieve in future soccer seasons?
- Have fun with everyone on the team
- Improve my soccer skills
- Score a goal!
Q: What are your favorite hobbies and things to do outside of soccer?
Outside of soccer, I really enjoy reading and baking! I especially like to bake cakes and cupcakes. I also enjoy my work as a medical assistant in a dermatology office.
Q: What are three things you are looking forward to for the 2025 season?
- Spending time with my teammates
- Traveling with the team
- Getting to play at the Switchbacks stadium!
Coach Justin Grimmett:
Q: When did your interests in soccer start?
When I was in the third grade. My dad took me to sign up for soccer and football. I had to pick one sport at that time, and I picked soccer. From there, I played for 15 years.
Q: How would you define success in the sports world?
I define success in sports as a total team effort for the same result. Watching a team working collectively to make each other better.
Q: How do you stay motivated as a coach?
I stay motivated as a coach by giving back to players in the sport and sharing my passion for the game every time I step on the field with them.
Q: What is your favorite sports memory?
My favorite sports memory is when my dad took me to my first Denver Broncos football game as a birthday present to me in the fifth grade.
Q: What are three things you like about being a coach for the Switchbacks Unified Team?
- I look forward to the new challenge in coaching our unique and special players.
- I look forward to sharing the recognition and accomplishments of our club
- Increasing our fan base and support.
Q: What are your favorite sports teams?
The Denver Broncos
Q: What do you like to do outside of soccer?
I like to exercise, spend time with family, go to church and be with my children and their activities.
Meet Our Partners:
NEW Corporate Sponsor Highlight: Toyota
Your Colorado Springs Toyota Dealers are excited to be a new sponsor of the 2025 Switchbacks Unified Team. We are a group of 2 Toyota stores that come together to provide sponsorship support to great causes in our community like the Switchbacks Unified Team. Our two Toyota stores are Corwin Toyota Colorado Springs and Toyota Of Colorado Springs. Come see us if you are looking for a great car buying experience or if you need service on your current vehicle. We are looking forward to a great season with the Switchbacks Unified Team and supporting these worthy athletes as they pursue their athletic dreams. Let’s Go Places & Let’s Go Switchbacks Unified Team – Curtis Hensley, General Manager, Corwin Toyota Colorado Springs & Dylan Page, General Manager, Toyota Of Colorado Springs.
Meet your new Champion Partner: The El Pomar Foundation
El Pomar Foundation was established by Spencer and Julie Penrose, visionary community stewards who invested in the well-being of the people of Colorado. Since 1937, El Pomar has made more than 25,000 grants all over the state to over 5,000 nonprofits. We are also committed to contributing more than grant dollars to support the success and vitality of communities and nonprofits throughout Colorado. Today, we work to create a compounding effect through a trifecta of grant making, leadership development and community programming, and historic properties where people convene and connect to address current issues and learn about the past. We’re pleased to support initiatives like the Special Olympics Switchbacks Unified Team which creates opportunities for people with disabilities to be included in sports.
Sponsor Highlight: Meet your new Gold Partner Dungarvin
Dungarvin Colorado is committed to providing residential and community connection services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our partnership with the Special Olympics reflects this commitment, as we share the same vision for a world where people with Developmental Disabilities have equal opportunities to live the life they want. We are dedicated to respecting and responding to the choices of people with developmental disabilities, ensuring that everyone has the support and opportunity to achieve their dreams.
