Ohio’s latest roster addition hasn’t been with the team long, but he’s already made the biggest difference in the team.
The Bobcats recently signed Colton Kiger through Team IMPACT, a program that connects children with serious illnesses or disabilities with local college teams. The goal of the program is to provide a safe, supportive and encouraging environment for the children and their families through sports.
The Kiger family learned about the program through the Cystic Fibrosis clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The Kiger’s social worker knew that Colton is interested in sports and wanted to see if he’d be interested in joining.
Colton’s mom, Miranda, knew the program would be perfect for him.
“Colton loves sports. That’s where he is happiest,” Miranda said.
Ohio coach Craig Moore was approached by Tia Jameson, assistant athletics director of student-athlete development and inclusion, about joining Team IMPACT in the fall. Once Moore learned about it, he knew it was something his team needed to be a part of.
“I wanted our guys to understand and see that there are people out there that are very less fortunate than what you guys have,” Moore said. “Like you guys think today was tough for you? it was nothing. We wanted to open up our guys' eyes a little bit to that type of stuff.”
The Bobcats first met Colton in November of 2022 over a Zoom call. It was a small group at first, just Moore and the junior class, but right away there was a connection between the team and Colton. He’s a shy kid, but when it comes to the Bobcats, Colton’s all excitement.
“I wish that I could record him prior to so that the guys could see what he’s like before we get on a call because he was so excited,” Miranda said.
Colton and the Bobcats met in person for the first time in January after a preseason practice. That was the first time he met the entirety of his new team. The newly-minted teammates hung out at a basketball game together and began to form a deeper bond.
“He’s a little brother we’ll never have, some of us at least,” Nick Dolan said. “He always brings a smile to everyone’s face here. Even on our bad days, seeing him walk around our facilities brightens everyone’s day.”
Colton experienced his first game as a Bobcat in mid-March. Ohio took on Central Michigan, and he was right there for it all. He’s a part of the team and to the Bobcats, that means more than just inviting Colton to a game. Colton sits in the dugout and takes ground balls on the field just like any other member of the team.
Miranda has seen growth in Colton since he joined the Bobcats. He grows out of his shell more each time he’s around the team.
“They said he was talking and that made me happy,” Miranda said. “Him talking in general means he’s like ‘OK, I’m feeling more comfortable. I’m coming out of (my shell) a little bit.’ They made him feel good.”
The Bobcats are right alongside Colton no matter what. They check in with him about life and school. It’s not just about baseball.
Ohio officially inked Kiger’s name on April 4 with a signing day ceremony in Phillips Auditorium in The Convo. The whole team was there and the moment was special for Kiger. He even gave his own press conference and received a special green block O hat like the team wears.
“We made it as official as possible with the camera crew, and our players represented some fans and some people asked questions,” Dolan said. “It was definitely a special experience for him and his family.”
After the bustle of signing day, the Bobcats went and shot basketball together in The Convo. Their bond has come naturally and Moore has seen a change in the team since Colton joined.
Kiger wears his green Ohio hat, signed by Dolan, everyday. He never wants to be without it. The only time he takes it off is to go to school, but the minute he’s back home, it returns to his head. Colton loves being a Bobcat and the Bobcats love having him around.
“Colton loves it more than they will ever know because he won’t show them that,” Miranda said. “He’s realizing how much stuff he has to do to stay feeling okay and definitely in this last year, we’re wanting to stay the night with friends and friends coming over, but he comes with a whole baggage of medications and treatments and that’s becoming a thing. But, when he’s out there with the guys, they don’t make him feel like it’s a thing at all. He’s just out there being a kid with some older kids that he thinks are amazing, and they really are amazing.”
There’s a special bond between Colton and his team. He’s a Bobcat for life, and not just because he signed a piece of paper.
