COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Head coach Andrew Valmon and the Maryland track and field team announced the signing of five-year-old Angelo Torrealba Serrano of Hyattsville, Md. at a Signing Day ceremony at the Varsity Team House Monday afternoon.
 
Angelo, who comes to the Terps via Team IMPACT, battles Leukemia, which he was diagnosed with shortly after his third birthday. Despite his condition, Angelo has been able to keep active by running, playing with his brother and sister, and playing sports, which he just started recently. He will now attend Maryland practices, events and games throughout the season. 
 
"As a coach, it's great to see something like this take place," Head Coach Andrew Valmon said. "It's a testament to our team and the kind of people we have on our team and our program and he's a perfect fit."
 
After signing his letter of intent, Angelo met with the team, coaches and his parents for his first official team meeting as a Terrapin. He and his family discussed their love for the University of Maryland and received Maryland gear and a locker plate embossed with his name.
 
Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, MA that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,200 children with more than 450 colleges and universities in 46 states, reaching over 35,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.