'We have found that someone'

The Penn College men's basketball team added a "program changer" to its roster over the weekend, a young man celebrated for his strength of character, heart and passion for life.

During a special meeting in the Davie Jane Gilmour Center on Saturday afternoon, the squad welcomed Mason Chapman – son of Megan E. Rogers, the building's information desk assistant and author of "Meet Mason." The two-year partnership was facilitated by Team Impact, which matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams to create long-term, life-changing experiences for everyone involved.

Mason has an extremely rare genetic syndrome called Lenz Micropthalmia, which caused him to be born blind and with heart defects that were repaired through open heart surgery during infancy. He also has a severe overall global developmental delay, which has been more challenging due to his blindness, and many health issues and surgeries.

Most recently, his intestines twisted due to malrotation in utero, causing him to go into severe fatal septic shock. Doctors had no hope for his survival ... but survive, he did.

Entering his fifth season with the Wildcat men's team (and with a number of years' experience at several institutions before that), coach Geoff B. Hensley said, he has scoured the countryside for the "brightest and finest young men we can find" to elevate the program.

"I go to hundreds of high schools, (Amateur Athletic Union) events, summer leagues and basketball camps each year. I see firsthand players of all sizes, skills and athletic abilities," he said. "It is easy to walk into any gym and find someone that can make a basket, or dribble a ball, or play defense. Every team in America has a point guard, a forward and a center. But that's not what we're looking for."

What makes a team into a winning program, he said, is someone with character, integrity and heart.

"It's heart that will help a team persevere through the tough times. It's heart that will keep the team going through the ups and downs of a long college basketball season. It's heart that will turn a team into a family. And it's that love inside your heart that will transform a team of players into a team of brothers."

"For the last 13 years, I have been looking for that young man with the right strength of character that I want to be a part of this program. I have found someone who has the strongest heart I've ever seen," the coach said, adding that the most successful people in life are the ones who have courage and persevere. Who, like Mason, never give up.

"They are the ones who get knocked down eight times, but they get back up nine times." Hensley said. "They are the ones who stay optimistic that the best days are ahead of them, despite how tough times can get. We have found that someone."

To make it official, the coach read from the national letter of intent presented to all college recruits. A Braille copy was provided to Mason, who affixed his stamp, then – with family and friends cheering, and the college mascot standing nearby – donned a jersey as the newest member of the team.

As Mason's teammates came up for photos, his mother thanked them and their coach for being so very supportive.

"We're looking forward to a great season," she said. "Go, Wildcats!"