Layla is 6 years old and currently fighting Leukemia and undergoing treatment. She also has an older sister named Kayla, who is 14, and also loves volleyball. They moved from New York to North Carolina just before Layla’s diagnosis.
Winthrop has partnered with Team IMPACT in the past, most recently winning 2026 Team IMPACT National Teammate of the Year award as Winthrop junior softball player Emmy Cardenas and Raegan Hornung recently received the honor.
“We always want people in this program who are strong, courageous, and brave,” said Gearhart. “Layla fits right into that and is already a great example of all the intangibles that we strive to have as Winthrop Eagles.”
About Team IMPACT
Team IMPACT’s unique multi-year program signs children facing serious illness and disability onto college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win, effectively building confidence and independence. Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 4,000 children with 750+ colleges and universities in all 50 states, impacting more than 75,000 student-athletes. If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit www.teamimpact.org.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
