BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team officially announced the newest member of its program on Sunday, September 8, as eight-year-old Kendall Weinburg (Hamilton, Mass.) joined the Gulls via her Team IMPACT Draft Day, which was held at the Endicott College Softball Complex.
Kendall's draft day festivities included signing a National Letter of Intent (NLI) at the conclusion of a press conference that featured local media members, several student-athletes from the Endicott softball, men's ice hockey, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse programs, as well as their Team IMPACT teammates including Ava Beaulieu (women's lacrosse), Erik Bell (football), and Kenny Wallace (men's lacrosse).
After the press conference, Kendall's fun-filled day didn't stop there as Kendall and the softball team spent time completing arts and crafts projects and playing Wiffle Ball. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Endicott/Team IMPACT contingent of community members in attendance played games on the outfield grass including Cornhole, Spikeball, kickball, and Wiffle Ball, among others, in an effort to bring everyone else on campus involved with Team IMPACT together for the day.
"We are beyond excited to welcome Kendall and her family into the Endicott softball program," said head coach Katie Bettencourt. "We were fortunate enough to get to know Kendall this summer before today's signing and it's safe to say that she is tenacious, enthusiastic, independent, and extremely funny. She has been a great addition to our team and we look forward to embarking on many more adventures together and creating lasting memories with her. Lastly, the team and I would like to thank Team IMPACT for this incredible opportunity!"
KENDALL'S STORY
Kendall is one of 166,000 estimated individuals living courageously with spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly.
ABOUT TEAM IMPACT
Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Team IMPACT has more than 1,000 teams across the country waiting to be matched with children, ages 5-16, who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness and who could benefit from becoming a member of the team. If you know a child who may be interested, visit www.goteamimpact.org for more information.
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(Photo Credit - Terry Slater)