The LIU men's lacrosse team held a heartwarming signing ceremony on Jan. 16, 2024.
Ten-year-old Kieran, who lives with cerebral palsy, signed with the team through a partnership with Team IMPACT.
The entire LIU lacrosse team crowded into a conference room for the press conference to officially welcome Kieran to the Sharks family.
"Team IMPACT is excited to see Kieran officially join the Sharks," said Emma Simches, regional director of programs for the Northeast at Team IMPACT. "We are proud to work alongside LIU, its athletic department and coaching staff to create lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes between student-athletes and their Team IMPACT teammates."
Said LIU men's lacrosse coach
Jordan Levine: "It's a special way to give back. It is personal, relatable and it makes your team feel as good as Kieran feels to be part of it."
Kieran has already been a big part of the team, having attended multiple practices. The Sharks also have attended Kieran's lacrosse practices, and they've attended LIU hockey games together.
LIU has worked with Team IMPACT for the past seven years. Other teams that have participated in the partnership include equestrian, football and men's soccer.
The signing event also marked a homecoming for Kieran's mother, Kristy Abrams-Meekins. She won a national championship with the women's lacrosse team and graduated from the campus in 2007.
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 3,000 children with 700-plus 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
