NEW YORK — Columbia men's soccer has announced the signing of nine-year-old Elijah Albino to the team's 2023 roster. Elijah officially became a member of the program through his signing last week, made possible by Team IMPACT.
A press conference was held inside the Chrystie Field House at Columbia University's Baker Athletics Complex to announce Elijah's signing. He was joined by his mother, siblings and other family members, as well as every single member of the Columbia men's soccer team. Columbia Athletics administrators and staff also attended Elijah's signing day.
"Elijah is an outstanding and spontaneous person. He cares for people and he has a unique personality," said his mother, Carmen. "You just want to feed into it all the time and you can't get enough of it. This opportunity for him to encourage others to be the most and not settle for less is just amazing … Seeing the team all participate and be interested in this nine-year-old boy running around was magical."
Elijah was diagnosed with a lifelong renal disease that affects his day-to-day life. Despite the challenges he faces, Elijah preservers through it all and shows incredible toughness and character that head coach Kevin Anderson knew would make an outstanding addition to his program.
"I just want to thank everybody for making the time. We know this is a really big day for our program and for Elijah and his family to be the first signing of our 2022-23 recruiting class," Anderson said during the press conference.
Assistant coach Joey Blasetti and junior David Walley led the process to make Elijah's signing possible.
"Giving Elijah a sense of belonging and identity here in our program is what we want to do here," Blasetti said. "Elijah is a special kid that is a blessing in everyone's lives. Every room that he steps into, he's the life of the party. He's changing lives one day at a time and he is a special kid."
"Elijah is a really energetic and enthusiastic kid," Walley said. "He loves sports. He loves WWE and he's up to do whatever. He's really outgoing and confident. He loves to play games and pick teams and he's just a really kind person."
Team IMPACT is a national non-profit organization that 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.
Columbia University has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 11 years, matching nine children across its men's and women's basketball, women's field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, softball, and women's tennis teams.
ABOUT TEAM IMPACT
Team IMPACT is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Boston whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto college athletic teams and are a part of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. 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.
Team IMPACT is currently looking for more children like Elijah (5-15 years old, diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness that has resulted in treatment and/or extended hospital stays within the past three years and who, as a result of his or her diagnosis, could benefit from a boost to improve their quality of life both socially and psychologically) that are interested in becoming a full member of a collegiate sports team. If you know a child that may be interested, please visit the Team IMPACT website for additional information.
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