DENVER – The MSU Denver softball program has announced the signing of Emma Ahlgrim as a new team member from Team IMPACT.
 
"She's outgoing, and she's fun," MSU Denver coach Annie Van Wetzinga said. "She's got a little sarcasm about her, which I love, a little sass, which I love. She's going to fit in just fine."
 
Emma is a 15-year-old from ThunderRidge High School who is diagnosed with Wiedemann Steiner Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes developmental delays.
 
She signed with the Roadrunners in a ceremony on the field at the Assembly Athletic Complex on Sept. 20.
 
"I thought it was pretty cool," Emma said.
 
Her recruiting trip included a tour of the Cohen Center for Athletics and the softball field, a swag bag of softball gear, participating in team, individual and group photos during the team's media day, hanging out with the players and then the signing ceremony.
 
She also got to wear the Roadrunners uniform.
 
"Now I'm officially part of the team," she said.
 
Emma loves softball through watching her sister's games. Her favorite position is second base.
 
"Because my sister plays second," she said.
 
Joining the program means Emma will be attending Roadrunners team events and games.
 
"We're going to get her here as often as we can, get her in the dugout hyping up the girls," Van Wetzinga said.
 
Roadrunners catcher Jaiden Geist is one of several team members tasked with keeping Emma involved.
 
"It was really awesome," Geist said of Emma's first day as a Roadrunner. "She was a little shy, but her parents have told us she's usually very outgoing.  … We wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and included, just an equal with us."
 
Emma is the second Team IMPACT player to sign with an MSU Denver program. Sophia Miller signed with the volleyball team this spring.
 
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.
 
"I've known about Team Impact for a while and we had the opportunity this summer when they reached out to us," Van Wetzinga said. "And I said, 'Absolutely. Sign us up.' We have a great group of student-athletes who will be awesome resources and teammates, and Emma is a perfect match for us."
 
Van Wetzinga and her players also recognize that having Emma with the program can be as good for them as it is for Emma.
 
"It brings a lot of joy that we're able to do this and be good role models for her," Geist said. " The end goal is to be a good community, and all of us have a better perspective on how things could be different for us."
 
Said Van Wetzinga: "Hopefully they see that through sport you can affect people in lots of different ways … and realize that there are lots of younger players and kids out there that look up to them."