FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –  The Nova Southeastern men's and women's swim team welcomed Jake Hogan Thomas to the team during a Signing Day ceremony co-sponsored by Team IMPACT this past Saturday.
 
Jake sat beside his mother Sarah, and father, Matt, as well as Haley Watters, Team IMPACT-Swim Team Athlete Coordinator, head swim coach Ben Hewitt and assistant coach Danny Murphy as he signed his letter of intent to become a member of the NSU swim program.
 
"We're delighted to add Jake to our team," boasted Hewitt. "He's overcome so much in his life and his perseverance and great attitude are the values that we look for in our athletes. His personality, grit and love for life will be a tremendous asset and we look forward to our future with Jake!"
 
Prior to the signing, Jake helped pace the team towards the end of their morning practice, bearing the cold 60-degree South Florida winter temperatures and jumping in the pool with the team. He then led the team cheer at the breakdown of practice. Heading into the signing ceremony, Jake's favorite superhero Batman appeared, kicking off the festivities with excitement all around. At the end of the ceremony, Jake helped get the team excited for their upcoming Fall Frenzy meet, one of the biggest of the season.
 
"Team IMPACT is really a great organization to be a part of and has really encouraged our team to be more involved in our community," explained Watters. "We were all so excited to take part in and celebrate Jake's signing day, and it was so much fun seeing how happy he was to become an official NSU Shark. Jake is such an amazing and strong kid, and we can't wait to spend the next two years doing fun activities with him and watching him grow."
 
Jake has enjoyed spending time with the swim teams the last few months attending team dinners and practices, becoming a true member of the squad.
 
Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, Mass., that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,800 children with more than 600 colleges and universities in 48 states, reaching over 55,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie, and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency, and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.