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University of Massachusets Athletics
Women’s Basketball Signs Harper Carpenter Through Team IMPACT
October 10, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Massachusetts head coach Mike Leflar announced the new team member on Tuesday afternoon.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball head coach Mike Leflar announced a new team member on Tuesday, signing six-year-old Harper Carpenter through Team IMPACT.
Harper, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, was officially introduced at a signing day press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 10. In the Champions Center. She will participate in multiple activities with the women's basketball team, including games, practices, and other team events.
"We're unbelievably excited about having Harper join our program," said Leflar. "She's been around us the last two months and her energy, her joy being around the team is so positive. We're really hopeful that we're making a difference for her and her family, but I know from our perspective, she's making a difference for us when she's around. Her journey dealing with medical issues on a day-to-day basis, and her character even at six years old, doing that and going through life with a smile on her face is really inspirational for our team and our staff. If we can just bring a smile to her face and continue to bring smiles to her family's faces when she's around us, that's the true impact that we're able to have."
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.
"Team IMPACT is excited to see Harper officially join the Minutewomen," said Emma Simches, Regional Director of Programs, Northeast at Team IMPACT. "We are proud to work alongside UMass, their athletic department, and coaching staff to create lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes between student-athletes and their Team IMPACT teammates."
UMass has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 11 years, matching 9 children across its men's and women's basketball, women's lacrosse, men's hockey, baseball, and football teams.
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 over 3,000 children with 700+ 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.
Media Contacts
For UMass Athletics: Riley Ubben, rubben@umass.edu
For Team IMPACT: Katie DePaolo, kdepaolo@teamimpact.org
Harper, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, was officially introduced at a signing day press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 10. In the Champions Center. She will participate in multiple activities with the women's basketball team, including games, practices, and other team events.
"We're unbelievably excited about having Harper join our program," said Leflar. "She's been around us the last two months and her energy, her joy being around the team is so positive. We're really hopeful that we're making a difference for her and her family, but I know from our perspective, she's making a difference for us when she's around. Her journey dealing with medical issues on a day-to-day basis, and her character even at six years old, doing that and going through life with a smile on her face is really inspirational for our team and our staff. If we can just bring a smile to her face and continue to bring smiles to her family's faces when she's around us, that's the true impact that we're able to have."
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.
"Team IMPACT is excited to see Harper officially join the Minutewomen," said Emma Simches, Regional Director of Programs, Northeast at Team IMPACT. "We are proud to work alongside UMass, their athletic department, and coaching staff to create lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes between student-athletes and their Team IMPACT teammates."
UMass has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 11 years, matching 9 children across its men's and women's basketball, women's lacrosse, men's hockey, baseball, and football teams.
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 over 3,000 children with 700+ 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.
Media Contacts
For UMass Athletics: Riley Ubben, rubben@umass.edu
For Team IMPACT: Katie DePaolo, kdepaolo@teamimpact.org
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