Brandywine Softball Drafts Ziah Oyler From Team IMPACT

MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine softball team officially welcomed the newest member of its team as10-year-old Ziah Oyler of West Grove, Pa., signed her national letter of intent on Monday evening at a press conference inside the Commons Gym.

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Ziah, who was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, in 2016, was teamed up with Brandywine softball through Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with collegiate athletic teams. The mission of Team IMPACT is to improve the quality of life for those children through the power of team.

Head Coach Mark Caserta was excited to welcome the newest member to Brandywine softball. "This is super special for our team. What we've done during the season on the field means nothing compared to having Ziah here today. From day one, the team has loved being around her. It's an honor for us to call her a member of our softball team," said Caserta.

Prior to signing her letter of intent on Monday, Ziah took a tour of campus guided by Assistant Athletic Director Bobbi Caprice. During the past month, Ziah has visited the team at Maple Zone, spending time in the dugout during home games. Now that she has officially signed on with the team, Ziah will continue to be a member for years to come.

Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,400 children with more than 500 colleges around the United States, reaching over 50,000 participating student-athletes.