ROCHESTER, Mich. – On Friday, April 14, Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's soccer announced a new team member, signing 13-year-old Owen Moerdyke through TEAM Impact.

Owen, who recently completed treatment against Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer that begins in the cells that form bones, officially signed with the Golden Grizzlies Friday at The Social Space on East Street in Rochester during the program's Signing Night and End of Year Banquet. He will participate in many activities with Oakland men's soccer over the next two years, including games, practices and other team-related events.

TEAM Impact, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletic teams across America. Based on a clinical model, TEAM Impact guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment and resilience.

"We are super excited to be signing Owen to our 2023 Oakland Men's Soccer recruiting class, this surely vaults our already top-level recruiting class into ELITE status. We would like to officially welcome Owen and the whole Moerdyke family to our Black & Gold Family!" Golden Grizzlies head coach Eric Pogue said.

"Owen is our second signing from a special program, TEAM Impact, having previously signed Alex VanHolder to our Family in Fall 2017, so we know what an amazing experience this can be for both sides – yes, for Owen and his family, but also just as importantly, for our student-athletes, staff and program!

"Owen is a special young man with a strong passion for the game of soccer, developing his love for the game in South Lyon for an elite youth program, Michigan Jaguars FC. We look forward to helping fuel his passion and love for soccer by having him join the Oakland Men's Soccer team and having him with us at many home games, away games, trainings, team meals and team events over the next few years, helping us bring trophies back to Rochester."

Set to turn 14 years old on June 14, Owen still lives in South Lyon with his parents, Jayme and Jerry, and older brother, Trevor. In addition to soccer, he loves putt-putt golf, video games and Marvel movies.



About TEAM Impact
TEAM Impact's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disability onto 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, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence.

Founded in 2011, TEAM Impact has matched more than 2,300 children with 700-plus colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting the lives of more than 60,000 student-athletes. If you know a child, family or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org.

Media Contacts
For TEAM Impact: Katie DePaolo, kdepaolo@teamimpact.org

For Oakland men's soccer: Teddy Rydquist, tedrydquist@oakland.edu