In the world of college athletics, where wins and losses often dominate the conversation, there’s something bigger taking shape in Chapel Hill - something that stretches well beyond the scoreboard. At the University of North Carolina, sports have become a platform for something deeply human: connection, compassion, and community. And a lot of that has been made possible through a powerful partnership with Team IMPACT.
It all started back in 2011, when eight former college classmates - all student-athletes - came together in Boston with a shared belief in the power of team. That belief became the foundation for Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that pairs children living with serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic programs.
The goal? To give these kids the experience of being part of a team, while giving student-athletes a deeper perspective on life, leadership, and resilience.
By 2014, UNC Athletics had joined the movement, beginning with the Diamond Heels baseball team. Since then, the partnership has grown into something truly special. Today, eight Tar Heel programs - including Wrestling, Men’s Lacrosse, Volleyball, Men’s Tennis, Swimming & Diving, Baseball, Fencing, and more - are working directly with Team IMPACT kids, and the results have been nothing short of transformative.
“We partnered with Team IMPACT four or five years ago now,” said Tony Ramos, associate head coach for UNC Wrestling. “It’s awesome for us because we have athletes grinding every day, and this gives them a different outlook.
You might think you’ve got it tough, but there are people out there facing real-life struggles. It puts things in perspective.”
That perspective has turned into purpose across Carolina’s athletic programs. And for the men’s lacrosse team, it’s also turned into recognition. This past spring, players Owen Duffy and Grant Pierce, along with their Team IMPACT teammate Noah Clifton, were honored with the organization’s Teammates of the Year award - a testament to the strength of the bond they’ve built.
“Our teammate Noah - his smile and laugh light up any room,” said Duffy. “I always tell Noah’s mom that they’ve done more for us than we could ever do for them. Seeing how they show up with a smile every day, no matter what they’re facing, really puts everything into perspective.”
For Noah’s mother, Amy, the experience has meant everything. “It’s an outlet for Noah - a safe environment where he can be himself.
They accept him and let him be as goofy as he wants to be. It means the world to us.
They’re his big brothers.”
Duffy echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the long-term impact of the relationship. “What I hope Noah takes away from being part of our team is that he’s got a whole family now within Carolina Lacrosse. He always has a place here, and a network of people who love him and will always be there for him.”
That sense of belonging is a recurring theme across all the programs involved. Many UNC teams host “signing day” events to officially welcome their young teammates, complete with uniforms, media days, and team activities throughout the year. For kids who may have spent more time in hospitals than on playgrounds, it’s a chance to feel like part of something bigger - and to just be a kid.
“I’ll never forget one of the first days Abbie was with us,” said head volleyball coach Mike Schall, referring to their Team IMPACT teammate. “We were walking down the hallway and we had this uniform for her, and she said, ‘A real uniform?!’
She’d probably never had one before. That was a pretty special moment.”
Schall sees the impact on both sides. “I’m so grateful that we get to do what we do and also be a really good example - not just for Abbie, but for a lot of young people who look at our players.
It amazes me every day how much our players impact young people in the community, in volleyball, on campus. It’s a constant reminder of everything we have to be thankful for.”
That gratitude was on full display this past weekend, when all of UNC’s Team IMPACT teammates were invited to a holiday celebration. The event included gingerbread house building, recognition at the Dean Smith Center before a Tar Heels men’s basketball game, and a front-row seat to UNC’s win over USC Upstate. But more than anything, it was a celebration of the relationships that have been built - the kind that go far beyond the court or the field.
“I think when you get to this stage of sports, with all the competition and pressure, you can sometimes forget why you started playing in the first place,” said Shelby Barbee of the softball team. “This is an incredible reminder to just have fun. That’s what it’s all about.”
For families like Ashley James and her son Wyatt, who’s been teamed up with the UNC Swimming & Diving program for two years, the experience has been life-changing. “The relationship is unlike anything we’ve experienced,” James said.
“It’s amazing to watch him interact with the swimmers. They’re role models for him.”
At its core, this isn’t just about sports. It’s about people - young athletes learning what it means to lead with heart, and kids finding joy, confidence, and family in the most unexpected of places.
For everyone involved, it’s a reminder of what team really means. And in Chapel Hill, that definition keeps getting deeper.