Kline of East Haven has joined the Bulldogs through Team Impact, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team.
Logan has a gastrointestinal disorder as well as Ehler Danlos Syndrome, a group of disorders that mostly affect the skin, joints and blood vessels.
An official Draft Day ceremony was held to welcome Logan, who was accompanied by his parents when he signed his official Letter of Intent and met with the team and coaching staff. A big fan of the Star Wars movie series, Logan was treated to a visit from Chewbacca [AKAÂ Allec Willis] and the music from the epic motion picture.
"Team Impact is a great organization that does a lot of good for young people, and we are very excited and thankful to be matched with Logan and his family," said Kylie Stannard, The 5K Corral Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "What''s especially neat about this program is that this is not just a single event or relationship for a few days or a few weeks. Logan and his family are now forever part of the Yale Soccer Family."
Logan attends practices, games and other special events.
"This is such a mutually beneficial relationship," Stannard said. "Quite honestly, having Logan join our team may have more positive impact for our team then it does for Logan. What Logan has been through and has to deal with on a daily basis is much bigger than wins and losses. We should certainly never feel sorry for ourselves, and Logan is going to be our secret weapon to help us push through tough times, and hopefully we can be there to support him through his tough times as well."
Since its inception in 2011, Team Impact has matched 1,100+ children to over 450 colleges and universities throughout the country. The child gains great strength, camaraderie and support and the student athletes are taught lessons about courage, resiliency and life perspective that they can''t learn in a classroom.
"We are so excited to welcome Logan to our team," said Archie Kinnane, Yale''s 2017-18 team captain. "It is inspiring to witness how he has dealt with incredible hardship and still maintained such a positive outlook on life. I hope that we can make this a special experience for Logan, and I am sure that it will be a special one for us."
