Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Team Welcomes Thomas Argersinger To Spartan Family
3/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. -In partnership with Team IMPACT, the Michigan State tennis team welcomes 6-year-old Thomas Argersinger to the Green and White family.
Thomas, who has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, was announced as a member of the team at a press conference on Monday, March 23, with his mother, Carmen, and head coach Gene Orlando, at the Tom and Lupe Izzo Family Media Center at Spartan Stadium. Thomas fielded questions from the members of the tennis team with his brother, Jake, and father, Ritchie, in the audience.
Team IMPACT is a non-profit organization from Quincy, Massachusetts, that matches kids with life-threatening illnesses to collegiate athletic teams to create long-lasting support networks.
"We have been looking high and low for this athlete," Orlando said. "We are looking forward to having him for the Big Ten season."
The team asked Thomas questions like "what's your favorite subject in school?" and "what's your favorite food?"
Naturally, Thomas responded with "gym" and "pizza"; the Spartans have pizza at every home tennis match.
"It was a little overwhelming at first, but everyone just immediately embraced him," Carmen Argersinger said. "For a 6-year-old to be accepted into this program is incredible."
Thomas has been around the men's tennis team for a couple weeks now, attending practice and spending time with the players and coaches. He was in the hospital at the end of October when Sparty came around and went trick-or-treating with the kids there. An employee at Sparrow asked if Thomas would be interested in Team IMPACT, and the rest is history.
When asked what his favorite part of the experience so far was, he gave an unsurprising answer.
"Today," Thomas said with a smile.
He's looking forward to attending more home matches with the team, now that he has been "signed."
"It's very exciting, and it's a big day for Thomas as our first Spartan," Carmen said. "Being accepted by the team and having a new support system is great."
