Skyhawks officially welcomed Holbrook, Massachusetts, 6-year-old in Saturday signing day event on campus
Ariel joins the Stonehill women's basketball program through Team IMPACT (PHOTO BY Joe Spadorcia, '23) |
EASTON, Mass. (December 21, 2021) – The Stonehill College women's basketball program officially welcomed its newest teammate when it signed six-year-old Ariel Smallcomb of nearby Holbrook through Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, Play Against Challenges, Together) during a ceremony at Merkert Gymnasium on Saturday.
Ariel, the son of Nili and Andrew Smallcomb, joins the Stonehill women's basketball program as an official team member and will attend practices, games and team functions. Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams to form life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes, matches Ariel as the women's basketball program's second Team IMPACT teammate after the program became the athletic department's first participant with Lexi Simoes nearly ten years ago.
"We are so thankful for our relationship with Team IMPACT and so excited to have Ariel and her family join our Skyhawk family," said Stonehill women's basketball head coach Trisha Brown. "It wasn't hard to fall in love with Ariel and her family right away, she really lights up a room. This program is so very 'impactful', and any coach would say a team gets so much more out of Team IMPACT than we could ever give to this family. We are blessed and thankful that Ariel and her family have chosen us and thank them for becoming a part of our team."
Ariel received her Stonehill jersey and basketball upon signing her official Stonehill women's basketball and Team IMPACT "Letter of Intent." Helping Ariel acclimate to her new team are team advocates: senior Sophie Glidden, juniors Mia Kelly and Jesse Semeniak, sophomore Cameron Ward and freshmen Sharn Hayward and Katelyn Mollica.
Ariel, with father, Andrew, signs her Team IMPACT "Letter of Intent" to join the Stonehill women's basketball program. (PHOTO BY Joe Spadorcia, '23) |
"This is such a special day for all of us as we have loved getting to know Ariel and her family and we can't wait to continue to grow our friendship," said Mollica. "Ariel continues to inspire each and every one of us every day with her positive energy and smile that truly lights up the room. We all feel so lucky to have her as a teammate to show us what true strength and bravery is, and we couldn't be happier to have you here with us."
"Team IMPACT is excited to officially add Ariel and her family to ours through their relationship with Stonehill Women's Basketball," said Seth Rosenzweig, CEO of Team IMPACT. "This match is extra special, as Nili, Ariel's mom, worked at Team IMPACT for many years and shares the same passion and heart for our program as we do. I look forward to seeing this relationship come to life and be a win for everyone involved, as Ariel will positively impact the team just as the team will positively impact her."
Ariel with Skyhawks senior Emily Bramanti after the Draft Day ceremony (PHOTO BY Joe Spadorcia, '23) |
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT is the only U.S. nonprofit that tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious illnesses and disabilities by matching them with a college athletic team. Our two-year therapeutic program complements a child's medical treatments, allowing the child to develop relationships and skills that help them complete the full circle of healing.
Through participation in Team IMPACT's clinically informed program, children experience a true sense of belonging, resulting in increased empowerment, normalization, health promotion, and resilience. Families feel connected and supported as their child achieves individualized goals, while experiencing the joy of team camaraderie and inclusion; and student-athletes gain perspective and inspiration, as well as lessons in adversity and resilience.
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 65,000 student-athletes. Team IMPACT has more than 1,200 teams across the country waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a serious illness or disability and could benefit from becoming a member of the team. To learn more, or if you know a child who may be interested, get in the game at www.teamimpact.org and @goteamimpact.
Stonehill (3-4, 2-3 NE10) is off for the holiday break and is scheduled to return to action on Thursday, December 30, against University of the Sciences in Worcester, Massachusetts, on the campus of Assumption University, at noon. The Skyhawks next home game is Sunday, January 2, when it hosts Southern New Hampshire University for a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at Merkert Gymnasium at 1:30 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
Women's Basketball Team IMPACT Draft Day Photo Gallery
