Luke Whitehouse
@Lwhitehouse12
Since 2013, Springfield College has partnered with Team IMPACT to give children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses an opportunity to be a part of teams on campus. 22 children have been “drafted” to many of the athletic teams on campus, including: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s volleyball and wrestling teams.
The partnership typically involves the child becoming an honorary team member, attending practices and games and forming strong bonds with the student-athletes and coaching staff. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, as the children gain a support system and a positive experience, while the student-athletes and the college community benefit from the inspiration and perspective the children bring.
When a child is matched with a team, a Team IMPACT draft is held where the team officially welcomes their new member. On Jan. 20, the Springfield College women’s basketball team drafted their second Team IMPACT member, 17-year-old Noeylann Pagan.
Pagan suffers from Non-verbal Cerebral Palsy and speaks predominantly Spanish, which could be challenging. Yet, Assistant Athletic Director Michelle Lee Scecina knew the women’s basketball team would be the perfect fit.
“Scecina knew that Alexis Castro, my assistant, speaks Spanish, so it was a no-brainer,” head coach Naomi Graves said. “I really love that community piece here.”
From the very first time Graves was approached, she knew what this partnership could turn into and what it meant for both her team and Pagan.
“I think it’s who we are,” she said. “When you have those opportunities to share with others, [you have to take it]. I want our athletes to see that I live the humanics philosophy, not that I just talk about it.”
Springfield College and the women’s basketball team can offer a sense of belonging and a family that Pagan can become attached to. But for Graves, Pagan can offer something too: a different understanding and appreciation for what others are going through.
“It’s a life-changing experience for some,” Graves said. “Because they have not had the ability to get to know someone in a position like she is.”
On Monday, nearly a week after Pagan became a part of the Posse, she was a part of practice, receiving her own locker and a pink t-shirt for the Pride’s upcoming “Think Pink” game on Saturday. The plan is to have her attend home games, and some practices as she becomes a bigger part of the family over the next two years.
Despite Team IMPACT being a two-year partnership, Graves hopes to make it much more than that.
“I think it’s important to have a long-term relationship with someone because then you get beyond the service component and more into the family component,” Graves said. “Team IMPACT wants to immerse their person into our team and have them become a valued member – and that’s what I want too. I want her to feel the Posse love and I want her to recognize that she’s one of us.”
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics