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Jason Ziglinski was drafted to the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team as part of Team IMPACT.
Jason Ziglinski was drafted to the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team as part of Team IMPACT.

Titans Add 8-Year-Old To Wrestling Roster

"Today is a big day for me," said 8-year-old Jason Ziglinski of Houdini Elementary School in Appleton. "I'm joining the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team. I'm being drafted."

Jason suffers from micro-duplications of chromosome 2 and 15 (causing muscle weakness, autism and intestinal issues), PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disease Attributes to Strep), Lyme disease and other auto immune issues.

He was drafted to the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team on May 10 as part of Team IMPACT, a national organization that aims to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team.

Jason was nothing but smiles during his official signing. UW-Oshkosh wrestling coach Efrain Ayala pulled out all the stops to make the moment special not only for Jason but for the entire wrestling team.

"Part of being a Titan wrestler is to be a member of a family," Ayala said. "This event brought the team together and showed them what it truly meant to be part of a family."

Prior to the official draft day, Jason was invited to campus to partake in some wrestling lessons from the team and received his very own locker with headgear and all. The excitement was captured in a video that can be viewed here.

"Jason is a member of our team! We are looking at having Jason travel with the team to a couple competitions next season," Ayala said. "We are so excited to have an additional member added to our team."

Amy Ziglinski, Jason's adoptive mother, never realized how much UW-Oshkosh was involved with supporting different organizations and causes.

"I thought of them as a typical Division III school – not as an awesome group working within the community," Ziglinski said.

Ziglinski, a 1991 graduate of UW-Oshkosh, is not shy of giving back herself as she currently has seven children – three adopted and four foster – and adopted Jason and his twin brother, Jack, from the foster care program.

"I think Draft Day is a wonderful opportunity for both Jason and the UW-Oshkosh wrestling team," Ziglinski said. "The team will benefit from Jason's infectious smile and his 'don't quit' encouragement."

The UW-Oshkosh wrestling team will start its 2016-17 season in November but plans to host monthly activities with Jason before then.

"Coach Ayala has been exceptional in watching for Jason's extra needs and planning for our gatherings," Ziglinski said. "We look forward to many great memories!"

Team IMPACT Website

Written by Steph Sleeter, UW-Oshkosh Acting Marketing & Development Specialist