Youngstown, Ohio — Through a partnership with Team IMPACT, the Youngstown State women's basketball team is excited to welcome Struthers, Ohio, native Emily Guerriero to the program. The pairing became official with a signing ceremony in the DiBacco Family Leadership Center in YSU's Stambaugh Stadium on Friday.
"We are so excited to officially sign Emily to our YSU women's basketball program," Youngstown State head coach Melissa Jackson said. "Emily has immediately impacted our program on such a positive level. She brings great energy, enthusiasm and positivity to our team, and she has quickly become our biggest cheerleader. We are so thankful for her and can't wait to continue to have her a part of our YSU family."
Guerriero and the Penguins were matched in October, and she has since been a mainstay in the stands at home and road games this season. Friday's ceremony included a recruit-style photo shoot in YSU's Digital Media Studio and the official signing in front of a press conference backdrop. Guerriero's parents, Karen and Steve, and her grandmother, Reva Montgomery, attended the event, along with YSU student-athletes Hayden Barrier, Danielle Cameron, Erica King, Dacia Lewandowski and Casey Santoro, and the Penguins' coaching staff.
Team IMPACT is a national non-profit committed to changing the lives of children, families, student-athletes, and teams across the country. The organization helps provide a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment for children living with a serious illness or disability and their families to connect with a college athletic team and local campus community.
Guerriero, a 16-year-old junior at Struthers High School, was diagnosed with Williams syndrome when she was 18 months old. According to the Williams Syndrome Association, Williams syndrome is a genetic condition, present at birth, where medical and developmental problems, including cardiovascular disease and learning disabilities, typically occur, but side-by-side with striking abilities. These can include advanced verbal skills, highly sociable personalities and an affinity for music.
Guerriero enjoys being a cheerleader for the Struthers Wildcats during football season, and her favorite hobbies include playing with slime, listening to music, opening candy crates from around the world, spending time with family and friends, and, of course, watching her favorite team win!
"Emily loves to meet new people and make new friends, and that's why I feel this was the perfect program for her," her mother, Karen Guerriero said. "The entire team welcomed Emily with big smiles and open arms. They make her feel like part of the team, and that means so much to her. Emily will tell everyone that 'my girls are always so nice to me and they are all my best friends'."
"I have always wanted to see Emily be a part of something special where she feels truly accepted and to be able to carry that with her for the rest of her life," Guerriero added. "I get to see that here with all the girls, the coaches and the staff. They have all become such a very special part of Emily's life, which makes them a special part of mine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for accepting Emily into your Penguin family and into your hearts. I will forever be grateful."
