UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- On Saturday, April 16th, the Penn State men’s soccer team welcomed its newest addition to the squad, 15-year-old Levi Hains from Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
At the age of two, Hains was diagnosed with Duchene muscular dystrophy, a progressive muscle wasting disease with no cure. On one of Hains’ trips to Penn State Hershey, his case manager introduced him to the non-profit organization Team Impact. Team Impact is a therapeutic two-year program that matches children facing serious and chronic illness with college sports teams.
“Levi loves all sports,” said his mother Perlita. “It was really just a perfect fit hearing that there was this organization that would help get a disabled child involved in something that he can’t do, but he would love to do.”
Team Impact paired Hains with the Penn State men’s soccer program, and the team could not be more thrilled to have this new addition to their roster.
“He [Levi] adds something to the team that’s really valuable,” said sophomore midfielder and Team Impact leadership member, Peter Mangione. “His perseverance is something that we talk about a lot because we want to have that when we are playing in our fall season. Him and his family are really special to us.”
Hains signed his letter of intent with the Nittany Lions last Saturday through a press conference ceremony in Rec Hall. The excitement from the coaches, Levi’s family, and players was heartening.
“I believe we gain as much from having Levi with us as hopefully he gains from being attached to the Penn State men’s soccer program,” said head coach Jeff Cook. “It was just a really great moment being able to introduce him formally press conference style, a well-deserved round of applause and to see the happiness it brought him made Saturday a very special moment.”
Hains joins the Nittany Lions’ roster alongside 25 players that recently won the Big Ten Men’s Soccer Tournament championship. Being able to have this opportunity with Team Impact and Penn State men’s soccer means everything to Levi and his family.
“I want Levi to see how there are loving and compassionate people willing to help those in need,” said his mother Perlita. “We want him to know that people care about him, even people who don’t even know him that well. We are just happy that people are getting to know about our…
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