COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced on Friday two new additions to its squad with the signings of former Air Force Academy standouts Tucker Bone and Austin Dewing. Both players will be available for selection this Saturday as the Switchbacks face Rio Grande Valley FC.

Bone primarily played as an attacking midfielder for the Falcons before graduating in May. He started 67 of 81 appearances, recording 25 goals and 22 assists for the Academy. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder was named Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a was a Semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy as a senior in 2018 while earning three All-WAC First Team selections and two United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team selections. Bone also spent time playing with the Pride Switchbacks U23 in USL League Two in 2018. Bone was selected 20th overall by the Seattle Sounders FC in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft on January 11th, 2019.

“It's big time,” said Bone of joining the Switchbacks. “It's that step to reaching my ultimate goal of playing at the highest level that I can. I'm looking forward to the games to come for the rest of the season. And I'm looking forward to helping out the Switchbacks and scoring some goals.”

A native of Colorado Springs, Dewing was Bone’s teammate with the Falcons for the past four seasons after winning a Colorado High School state championship at Air Academy High School. Dewing recorded 29 goals and and 19 assists in 77 appearances while at the Academy. The 22-year-old forward earned All-WAC Second Team honors in 2016, United Soccer Coaches All-West Regional First Team honors in 2017 and 2018, and USC All-America Third Team honors in his senior season. Dewing is also a product of Pride Soccer Club where he won a State Cup and state tournament MVP award in 2013.

“It's absolutely a dream come true,” said Dewing. “As a little kid, I always wanted to play pro. This is finally my opportunity. But really, I'm thankful for all of the people that made this possible. It's not really a personal thing, it's about my coaches and everybody that made this possible. That's what it means to me. It's more of a team accomplishment than it is an individual accomplishment.”

The Switchbacks have taken victory in each of their past two outings to five points of the playoff places in the USL Championship’s Western Conference going into this weekend’s action. Bone hopes his previously established chemistry with Dewing can help both players thrive and help the club continue its push up the standings.

“I'm feeling good about it,” said Dewing. “I'm just hoping to get on the field with him and show everybody what we did at Air Force and show them that we can do it at the next level too and make stuff happen together.”

Having gone to Switchbacks games as a fan during previous seasons, meanwhile, Dewing is looking forward to representing his hometown club.

“I would rather play for this team than any other team,” said Dewing. “It's a dream come true for my family to be able to come and watch and support me. I'm very excited.”