Meet the team
Hunter Horkheimer #1
Winger/Center
If I had to put power soccer into one word, it would be “freedom”. I say that because when I’m out on the field, I forget that I have a disability and that I can be myself without the fear of being judged. I can experience the thrill of expressing my competitive spirit without being told I can't do it. In this sport, we don’t have a “can't do attitude."We can do anything as a team. I've been playing for 12 years and some the best moments in my life have come from this sport. For 40 regulated game minutes, we are athletes with no limitations. Power soccer is a huge part of my life and I don’t know where I’d be without it.
josh burger #3
Center/Keeper
One of my favorite things about power soccer is that a person who is dependent on a power wheelchair can finally be part of a team. Power soccer is competitive and brings accountability and community to the players lives. Our soccer family even encourages each other away from the soccer court.
I enjoy power soccer so much that when my family and I moved to Chico in 2021, I knew that we had to bring this great sport to our community. So, here we are starting from scratch, Chico's first power soccer team: your Chico Gophers!
Nattie geddes #7
Winger/Keeper
Despite only recently discovering Power Soccer in October of 2023, it has given me a sense of direction in my life. It has greatly improved my confidence and social skills. It has allowed me the opportunity to enhance my motor skills. It has made me a happier person since I've discovered it.
elliott stroope #8
Winger
Growing up where I’m from, I was always the first guy in a wheelchair to do___. I got pretty used to trying to blend in and hide my disability. But after 25 years of muscular dystrophy, I finally get to play on a team of people who’ve traveled the same roads I have. For the first time, I am not alone.
A word I would use to describe power-soccer would be: “Potential.” The diverse range of players with varying conditions has shown me that in this sport, anyone can become the best; you have to do is believe. Although, at times this sport can be a little scary, it feels pretty good to be the hotshot rookie!
Aidden Whitsett #11
Winger
Hello, I am Aidden Whitsett and I moved to Chico in November 2024 from Southern California. I barely had been here a week and I got chased down by Josh. What a cool moment that was for me. I had never been chased by another person in a wheelchair. He told me about Power Soccer. Up until that moment, I had no idea a sport existed for someone like me. Power Soccer matters a lot to me. It means I get to meet people who understands me and the feeling of being included has been truly amazing. I have never been part of a team before. Since being a part of the Chico Gophers, it has taught me some very important lessons in life. One of the main ones would be communication, which is something I have struggled with for so long. This sport/team is holding me accountable to communicate because for the first time in my life, I am no longer relying on others to help me, they are relying on me to help because I am a part of a team that needs me. I look forward to seeing what this sport will do for me and what other life lessons I will learn. That being said, I am forever thankful for being a part of this team.
garrett Bramhall #13
Winger
I've been a spinal cord injury quadriplegic for 24 years. I have remained active in wheelchair sports. Most recently, a team developed in my town, and now I am proud to say I am an active Gopher. Power Soccer has been an inspiring eye-opener to me with the strategy and skill that is needed in this game. The teamwork that goes on in the practices and games, both on and off the court, is truly inspirational.
will carrasco #30
Winger
Hi, I’m Will Carrasco. I have spinal muscular atrophy, and power soccer has given me the opportunity to compete, challenge myself, and be part of a true team. I love the competitive side of the sport, from pushing myself on the court to working together with teammates toward a common goal. Being part of the Chico Gophers means belonging to a strong, supportive community that values determination, teamwork, and inclusion. The relationships built through the sport are just as important to me as the game itself.
Jesse Bracisco #81
Winger/Keeper
I am a C3-C4 quadriplegic and an avid video gamer who's looking to take my love of competition onto the courts. The community and camaraderie of fellow sports enthusiasts is what drove me to Power Soccer. Being a Gopher has given me a sense of pride and purpose, which continues to leave a smile on my face.
frank Burger
Head Coach
I have witnessed firsthand for over a decade what this sport has the unique ability to do: inspire, unite, and impact people’s lives. To go from isolated and marginalized to being recognized and having a new family is the secret sauce that power soccer serves to those dealing with disabilities. This competitive sport brings hope and personal growth to all those who engage with it. Gopher it!
