NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC announced their roster for the 2025 Special Olympics Unified Team during a special ceremony at Geodis Park on Tuesday night. The players signed their contracts with Nashville General Manager Mike Jacobs, while players Dan Lovitz, Jacob Shaffelburg, Joe Willis and Taylor Washington were also present.
"Providing these athletes with the opportunity to learn important life lessons through the game of soccer is a truly rewarding experience for our entire club," said Brandon Hill, Nashville SC Director of Community Engagement. "It is a joy every season to bring this team together, and we cannot wait to see what the 2025 squad accomplishes both on and off the field."
Courtesy Nashville SC
Nashville SC have fielded a Special Olympics Unified Team for each of the last four seasons. Three players from Nashville's team have been named to the Special Olympics Unified All-Star team; Adan Ramirez and Chris Parks played in the match in 2023, while Carl Ramey was named co-MVP of the All-Star match in 2022.
"Through Unified Sports, Special Olympics athletes not only have the opportunity to improve in the sport but to develop true meaningful friendships and understanding with their teammates," said Senior Director of Unified Champion Schools for Special Olympics Tennessee Beth Teegarden. "This partnership has many positive outcomes and one of my favorites is seeing the support and relationships developing between the first team players and the Unified Team."
The Special Olympics Unified Team is made up of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities. Having them play on a team together is designed to promote social inclusion and build friendships through the sport of soccer.
Nashville will play three matches in 2025. They'll travel to Atlanta United on May 3 and Chicago Fire on June 14, with a match at Geodis Park against Charlotte FC on May 10 in between.
Nashville SC 2025 Special Olympics Unified Team roster
1 Braden Jenkins*
2 Charlie Milhizer
3 Cameron Pryor
4 Harper Gibson*
5 Brodie Cowans
6 AJ Elliott
7 Ahmad Amedi*
8 Rogen Bonn*
9 Dylan Butts
10 Carl Ramey*
11 Gavin Crawford
12 Brea Fisher*
13 Mia Hasan*
14 Adan Ramirez*
18 Seth Isbell
19 Bryan Fisher*
25 Mihail Katselis*
29 Max Allen
30 Cole Ballweber*
34 Logan Holdaway*
42 Elijah Noah-Wilson
44 Gray Gibson*
47 Chris Parks*
*Returning from 2024
