BYU gymnastics partners with Team Impact to sign Samantha Merritt

PROVO, Utah – As of Saturday, Dec. 7, the BYU gymnastics team partnered with Team Impact to sign 13-year-old Samantha Merritt. Merritt is one of 30,000 cystic fibrosis patients in the United States.

“We have been wanting to be a part of Team Impact since I first started coaching the team,” Young said. “It’s a great program, but the right fit has to be there. We’ve been on the waiting list and we finally got the phone call that we got a match.”

Team Impact is a national nonprofit that serves 5-16 year olds facing life-threatening or chronic illnesses by matching them up with a local college athletic team. 

Prior to Young receiving the call, a representative from Vertex Pharmaceuticals reached out to Merritt and her family, giving them the chance to apply. The Merritt family lives in Spanish Fork and hoped to find an opportunity close by. Luckily, Young had a spot for her. 

“We talked about it as a family and Sammy said it would be really good for her,” Stacy Merritt, Merritt’s mother said. “She’s a dancer, a gymnast and a huge BYU gymnastics fan.”

Upon hearing the news, Young hoped to draft three of his gymnasts to take the lead in supporting Merritt.

“When I announced to the team that we were going to be a part of Team Impact, that night I got a text message from Avery Bennett saying ‘I want to be a part of this. This is what I want to do,’” Young said. 

A human development major, junior Bennett, volunteers weekly at the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Young believes this is a perfect fit and is excited for Merritt and Bennett to have this experience.

“I really love working with kids,” Bennett said. “It’s really awesome to be able to incorporate my love for gymnastics with my love for kids, especially sick kids. I just feel like they deserve to feel special and they end up strengthening you.”

In addition to Bennett, teammates junior Abbey Miner and freshman Lexi Mather help make Merritt a priority on the team. 

“A few of the girls came to her dance performance this week and were able to support her," Stacy said. “She’s been able to get to know them and it’s been a really big confidence boost for her. Just having girls to love and support her means a lot to a mom.” 

At the Team Impact Draft Day, Merritt couldn't stop smiling as she officially signed to be a Cougar. Now signed, the team will be able to include her in more of the team’s activities.

“She’s super cute and comes and watches us,” Bennett said. “We’re going to start doing things outside of the gym to get to know her better and help her to build her confidence.”

Not only will this experience strengthen Merritt, but Young believes it will impact the entire team. 

“I believe in service,” Young said. “I think it’s easy to get wrapped up in your own problems and feel sorry for yourself, but by going out and serving, it broadens you emotionally and spiritually to see the bigger picture of things.”