![Radley Theolien]( "Radley Theolien")
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (September 16, 2021) — MassBay Community College communication student, Radley Theolien of Dorchester, MA, will compete on the 2021 New England Revolution Unified team in the Massachusetts Special Olympics at Gillette Stadium on September 18, 2021. Theolien, who plays the striker position, was signed by Special Olympics Massachusetts and the New England Revolution as one of the twelve Special Olympic soccer athletes to compete in the game.
“To be honest, I just love the sport of soccer. It’s my passion,” said Theolien. “I’m a huge sports fan and a huge New England Revolution fan, so I’m so excited for the opportunity to play on the team and play at Gillette Stadium. It was such a cool experience to meet my teammates, get signed to the team, and participate in a press conference. I can’t wait for the game!”
Theolien has been playing soccer since he was a young boy, when he “learned to walk.” He played in town leagues in Dorchester and was on the Needham High School junior varsity team during his freshman year of high school. This is his first time competing in the Massachusetts Special Olympics. He learned about the tryouts from Rob Super, his Unified basketball coach at Needham High. During the New England Revolution Unified soccer tryouts, Theolien scored eight goals which he believes helped earn him a spot on the team.
“Taking the field at Gillette Stadium on Saturday will be a dream come true. For anyone, seeing a dream come true is truly amazing. I would tell everyone to keep dreaming big and never give up working towards their goals.”
Theolien’s future goals include earning his associate degree from MassBay and transferring to a four-year university for his bachelor’s degree in sports broadcasting and journalism. He hopes to work for ESPN someday.
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.