Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Queens on November 9, 2025 , Win , 87, to, 38
WBB
Final
James Madison
87
vs Queens
38
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Softball Partners with Team IMPACT to Sign McKenzie Woods to National Letter of Intent
1/22/2018 6:58:00 PM | Softball, Civic Engagement
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison softball team along with national nonprofit Team IMPACT hosted a special Draft Day celebration for eight-year-old McKenzie Woods of Churchville, Va. on Monday evening. McKenzie has been courageously battling Leukemia since September and has three more years of treatment.
Through Team IMPACT's program, McKenzie is now an official member of the softball team where she will attend practices, games, team dinners and other events throughout the season.
Head Coach, Loren LaPorte discussed the impact that McKenzie has already had on the team. She said, "Our team was asked to choose a word at the beginning of the season that represented them, we all had a hard time choosing a word at first, but we finally decided on the word strong. McKenzie we sit here today and all look at the definition of strong, your courage and fight through all the battles life brings you is an inspiration for each person in this room and we are so excited for you to become a part of our family." Â
After signing her national letter of intent the team presented McKenzie with her very own JMU softball jersey that she can wear throughout her time with the team. The team celebrated her signing with McKenzie's favorite, a homemade cheesecake and a cookie cake.
Sophomore Michala Pellegrino has gotten to know McKenzie very well over the past few months through FaceTime and Snapchat. She stated, "Ever since I got to JMU I told myself I wanted to be a part of something bigger than softball. Partnering with Team IMPACT and McKenzie has given me that opportunity. She is just like my little sister, I told her on the first day we are going to be sisters and friends forever. Seeing her today was so real, I was fighting back tears seeing the joy on her face as she signed her national letter of intent. I think it was fate for her to become a part of our team, and she will always hold a special place in my heart."
McKenzie Wood's Draft Day
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Through Team IMPACT's program, McKenzie is now an official member of the softball team where she will attend practices, games, team dinners and other events throughout the season.
Head Coach, Loren LaPorte discussed the impact that McKenzie has already had on the team. She said, "Our team was asked to choose a word at the beginning of the season that represented them, we all had a hard time choosing a word at first, but we finally decided on the word strong. McKenzie we sit here today and all look at the definition of strong, your courage and fight through all the battles life brings you is an inspiration for each person in this room and we are so excited for you to become a part of our family." Â
After signing her national letter of intent the team presented McKenzie with her very own JMU softball jersey that she can wear throughout her time with the team. The team celebrated her signing with McKenzie's favorite, a homemade cheesecake and a cookie cake.
Sophomore Michala Pellegrino has gotten to know McKenzie very well over the past few months through FaceTime and Snapchat. She stated, "Ever since I got to JMU I told myself I wanted to be a part of something bigger than softball. Partnering with Team IMPACT and McKenzie has given me that opportunity. She is just like my little sister, I told her on the first day we are going to be sisters and friends forever. Seeing her today was so real, I was fighting back tears seeing the joy on her face as she signed her national letter of intent. I think it was fate for her to become a part of our team, and she will always hold a special place in my heart."
McKenzie Wood's Draft Day
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Players Mentioned
OF
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