“Sports are a way to stay physical, to clear your head of pain and strife and focus on one goal - do my job on my team so we can all excel.” - Staff Sergeant Matthew Scholten, U.S. Army
Scholten was injured after serving two tours in Iraq when a 500 lb. IED destroyed his Bradley Fighting Vehicle during a patrol in Bagdad on August 22, 2007, causing a spinal fusion, traumatic brain injury, and cubital tunnel. He served in the Army for 20 years, retiring in 2016. Among his military awards, Matthew received the Purple Heart.
During his recovery, Scholten was introduced to adaptive sports. After leaving the military he’d looked to adaptive sports to find the same sense of camaraderie that he felt in the military. Through Move United, he was able to connect with and join the Kansas City Chiefs wheelchair football team, enjoying the team environment he’d been missing.
Scholten is currently a Human Resources Assistant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District.