BABSON PARK, Mass.—Head coach Tori Roche '20 and the Babson College softball program officially welcomed their newest team member as 15-year old Ava officially joined the Beavers through a partnership with Team IMPACT on Thursday afternoon. 
 
Ava, who lives with down syndrome, officially signed with the Green and White in a ceremony inside the Webster Center after joining the team in the dugout for their fall play date last Saturday. She was presented with a jersey and answered questions from her teammates during her introductory press conference. 
 
"We could not be more excited and grateful to partner with Team Impact and add Ava to our Babson softball family," stated Roche. "Her energy, enthusiasm and positivity represent everything that our program strives for each day. Just from our first week of being around Ava at team meetings, dinners, practices, and in the dugout, it's already so clear to me that Ava will impact our program and student-athletes far more than we could ever strive to give her for years to come. She is truly an amazing person and we are lucky to have her on our team!"
 
Ava will join her Babson teammates in many activities over the coming months and is looking forward to joining the team for games in the spring. 
 
"We are delighted to be part of Team IMPACT and the Babson softball team," commented Ava's mother, Kathy Horrigan. "Because Ava was born with Down Syndrome (which just means she has one extra chromosome than the rest of us ) and has special needs, it's been harder for her to make friendships with her peers, and so this new connection will help fill the gap in her social life in such a positive way."

Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience. 
 
Babson has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 13 years, matching 22 children across 11 programs. 
 
About Team IMPACT

Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disability onto college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win, effectively building confidence and independence. Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 4,000 children with 750+ colleges and universities in all 50 states, impacting more than 75,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org.