FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Warriors Add Key Piece to Recruiting Class with Signing of Pothier

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Continuing the rich department-wide tradition that does so much for the teams and players, the Merrimack track & field teams and interim head coach Mark Connolly in conjunction with the Team IMPACT program officially signed and welcomed Keelan Pothier to the program recently.

Keelan becomes the latest relationship that brings together Merrimack Athletics and Team IMPACT, which enriches the lives of young children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of the team. Keelan, age 10, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the young age of 18 months. As a member of the team, Keelan will attend practices, meets, special events, and much more with the Warriors.

"Merrimack College track & field is very excited to add Keelan to our roster," said Connolly. "Because of his age and academic standing, the NCAA won't let him compete in our meets, but when we saw Keelan's resume, we saw a lot of qualities that will really contribute to the overall success of this team."

During draft day, Keelan and his Merrimack teammates spent all afternoon together. He officially signed his letter of intent as the newest member of the team and  Connolly, along with many members of the coaching staff and team were on hand to show Keelan around the complex and enjoy a pizza party with him.

About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT is a national non-profit headquartered in Boston, Mass. that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with the college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,300 children with more than 500 colleges and universities in 47 states, reaching over 35,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency, and perspective they can't learn in the classroom.
For more information on Team IMPACT click here.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete. 

Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.