- November 27, 2024
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Although Emmy Herrick had played little soccer until a few weeks ago, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University held a press conference to officially sign the 7-year-old second-grader with special needs at Osceola Elementary to the women’s soccer team Tuesday, Sept. 1, at ERAU.
“We recruit players from all over the world; we have seven different countries, so for Emmy to be a part of our program is very special,” said Samantha Bohon, ERAU women’s soccer coach and Ormond Beach native. “The thing that we love about her is that she’s super fast; we saw it at our team dinner.”
ERAU collaborated with Team IMPACT (see below) to become Emmy’s support team, and, since then, she has participated in various events, including practice warmups, team dinners and the scrimmage game, where she got to sit on the bench with the other girls.
“Watching her the first day with them was very emotional for me,” said Katie Herrick, Emmy’s mom. “Embry-Riddle has been amazing. They’re an amazing team. Coach Sam has been wonderful. The girls took Emmy under their wing the first day, and she’s been very comfortable with them, which is a wonderful thing. It’s amazing to watch her interact and learn some new skills.”
At the press conference, Bohon presented Emmy with a team jersey, and she even had her sign her letter of intent. Afterward, Emmy answered questions from the media and others in attendance.
“Being on the team is awesome,” she exclaimed. “It makes me even bouncier,” she added, taking a short break from her constant running around with her twin, Madison, and older sister, McKenzie.
As normal as she appears, Emmy has a neurogenic bowel dysfunction and autism spectrum disorder. According to her mother, she has good days, but there are also bad ones.
“Having the soccer team here brings her up,” Katie Herrick said. “Even if she’s had a bad day, the soccer team can make a bad day better, which is a wonderful thing. And, when we’re at home, the kids help keep her stay grounded. When she has problems, Kenzie can reel her back in and calm her down sometimes when I can’t. They’ve been living with it for seven years, so they kind of get her.”
Before meeting her, the team was warned that Emmy struggled with social anxiety, but she has shown only the opposite around them.
“I met her for the first time today, and, when we were introduced, she just came and wrapped her arms around me,” said John Phillips, the director of athletics. “Today was a great day for us at Embry-Riddle and for Emmy. One of the things we try to do is impact the community, not just the students on campus. We like to get out into the community to support good people and good projects, and this is a great project. Emmy is a great little girl, and we’re happy to be a part of her team and to have her on ours.”
“She’s become a really big hugger, since she met the soccer team,” said Katie Herrick, after watching Emmy go around the room hugging everyone she encountered. “They’ve brought her out of her shell.”
One of Emmy’s teammates in particular who has meant the most to her, is Emmie Johansson, her favorite player because they share the same name.
“I got an email back in the summerthat we were going to get a girl named Emmie, which was kind of funny for me because my name is not the most common,” Johansson said. “It’s been a really good experience, and I definitely feel blessed to help and make her everyday life easier. She comes to us and really loves to be here, and we as a team enjoy being an impact to her as well. I have a little sister that’s about her age, back at home in Sweden, and I miss her a lot, so Emmy and I have had a connection since the beginning.”
The Eagles will be hosting “Emmy’s Night,” a night to celebrate their newest team member, at the first home game, against Stetson, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at ERAU. There, they will give away prizes and will have other activities for the fans.
“We prioritize getting into the community,” Bohon said. “We did over 450 community service hours last year, and this was a unique opportunity to actually have a longstanding relationship, so it wouldn’t be a one- or two-time experience, and Emmy and her family have been a great fit for us. She’s going to get a real, behind-the-scenes feel of being a part of this group. She will be at our home games, practices and will travel with us on some of the away games. It’s really neat.”
Email Jeff Dawsey at [email protected].
WHAT IS TEAM IMPACT?
Team IMPACT improves the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. The program matches kids with local college teams. Those children become an official member of the team from draft day through graduation. The child joins the athletic team, and the student athletes join the child’s support team.
