Meet the Penn State women’s lacrosse team’s new addition. She’s 10 and has ‘an amazing spirit’
Abigail Marinaro sat behind the podium in Beaver Stadium, eyes wide behind her glasses and with a massive grin on her face.
The 10-year-old from Lititz is living with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that typically affects the lungs and digestive system. And on Wednesday, she was being added to the Penn State women’s lacrosse team in a special “Draft Day,” through Team IMPACT and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Abigail was welcomed to the podium by coach Missy Doherty, who presented her with her very own jersey and exclaimed that it was the most excited she has ever been for someone to sign, before Abigail signed a “National Letter of Intent.”
“One of my favorite things I heard from Team IMPACT was this is what you have, not what you are, and I love that,” Doherty said. “Hearing Abby talk to our teammates and being a part of our team and hearing her family, it’s just an amazing spirit that you have, Abby, and if i could recruit players like you every day, I certainly would.”
Team IMPACT is a nonprofit organization that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams. Since 2001, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,600 children to college athletic teams at 500 colleges in 48 states. As part of the program, Abigail will attend Nittany Lions practices, games, team dinners and events.
After signing, Abigail answered questions from Doherty.
“Probably coming up and having a great time with everyone,” she said about her favorite part of the experience.
Abigail went on to say her favorite player on the team is attacker Madison Carter, and then the pair displayed a secret handshake.
“(Abigail) is just awesome. We’re so excited that we get to have her a part of our team this year,” Carter said. “She is such an inspiration to us all and Sunday we had a great day and (Abigail) was bringing the energy running up and down sideline after every goal. So we could already feel her presence.”
Abigail said she would be playing defense and shared her favorite TikTok dance with the team.
Then, Abigail concluded the event by leading a “we are” chant with her new teammates.
“What a special day, and we appreciate your family and you being here today to make it official,” Doherty said. “It’s already been so much fun having you a part of our team lineups, and having you a part of our team breakfast, and being a part of bringing our energy to the next level. So we can’t wait for you to be at more things, and we are just excited to have you a part of our program.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 6:04 PM.
