Thomas More’s men’s soccer team had some special support during its season-opener match on Sept. 4, 2025 at Republic Bank Field. As the team played Roosevelt University, 12-year-old Cohen Bramlee watched from the sidelines, beaming positivity and encouragement onto the field.

This was Cohen’s first appearance at a Saints soccer game since he was officially signed to the team in August 2022 through Team IMPACT, an organization that matches children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college sports teams to create long-term, life-changing experiences for all involved.

The Facebook page run by his family, “Super Cohen’s Crusade,” details the ups and downs of Cohen’s daily life as he battles numerous health issues, including a rare genetic disorder and an immune disease. Throughout his life, Cohen and his family have spent long periods of time at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital – making the chance to attend a soccer game at Thomas More truly a cherished experience.

“Cohen was so excited to finally be at the school for the game. These guys have been visiting him in the hospital and cheering him on through some really tough times, and he was grateful that it was his turn to cheer for them,” said Cohen’s mom, Carrie Bramlee.

Saints goalkeeper Drew Kendrick ’26 says the news that Cohen would be attending the first game of the season was met with both surprise and enthusiasm by his teammates. “As our reactions shifted, we all realized this night was more than our season opener, as we were playing for our teammate who has been fighting for his life since birth,” Kendrick shared. “That brought a lot of emotion over the guys, as many of us knew how much it meant to him to be with us that night. It was an experience I know I’ll never forget.” 

Before the game, Cohen met with the team and chatted about two of his favorite topics – Star Wars and superheroes. He even gave a pre-game pep talk, encouraging the team to play their best.

“Because of Cohen’s illness, he’s never been able to be on a team like his siblings. Team IMPACT has given him a chance to experience being part of a team, which has been very special. The members of the Thomas More [men’s] soccer team have gone out of their way to make him feel like one of their own, and I couldn’t get over how genuinely excited they were to have Cohen at the game,” Carrie Bramlee said.

In addition to Cohen, Saints Athletics currently engages five other Team IMPACT members, including Allen (men’s wrestling), Avery (women’s softball), Kyra (women’s volleyball), Makenna (women’s lacrosse), and Ben (men’s track and field), with a sixth to be signed this fall. The partnership for each child typically lasts two years, fostering supportive and meaningful relationships that help bolster skills such as emotional resilience. Thomas More has been a partner of Team IMPACT since 2017.

Involvement with Team IMPACT is just one example of how the Saints Athletics program fosters leadership skills for a lifetime of success. As part of their experience at Thomas More, all students are encouraged to examine their responsibility to others with an emphasis on the values of humility, hospitality, and service. In the 2024-25 academic year, Saints student-athletes responded to this call by engaging with community nonprofit organizations, including Team IMPACT, the Special Olympics, Morgan’s Message, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and more. In addition, many athletics teams serve together during Saints Serve, Thomas More’s annual campus-wide day of service initiative.

“I think doing service together really brings the team closer,” says Diogo Cardoso ’26, who also serves as goalkeeper for the Saints. “[It’s] a big reminder that there’s more to this than just a sport or just a game. It builds trust and shows we’re all there for each other, both on and off the field.”

Since its founding in 2011 by eight former college classmates and student-athletes, Team IMPACT has matched 4,207 children with college sports teams on over 800 college campuses in all 50 states. To learn more about this organization, visit teamimpact.org.