Men’s lacrosse finds inspiration in 9-year-old teammate

The Carolina men’s lacrosse team has an extra teammate cheering them on from the sidelines — 9-year-old Noah Clifton.

Noah was born with a gap between his trachea and his esophagus and other anomalies. In 2022, he was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. His parents, Amy Clifton ’13 (MEd) and Eddie Clifton ’02, ’14 (MHA), had first noticed Noah’s slower pace and difficulty breathing in T-ball practice when he was in kindergarten.

Noah can’t go to school or play sports, but his parents wanted him to be involved in something. A friend whose son was in Team IMPACT told them about the program.

Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disabilities with college sports teams, creating a life-changing relationship for the kids and their families, as well as the athletes and coaches they are paired with. Team IMPACT currently has more than 3,000 children paired with 750 colleges and universities, including 10 other kids at Carolina who are part of the field hockey, women’s soccer, rowing, softball, volleyball, football, wrestling, fencing, baseball, and swimming and diving teams.

Team IMPACT matched Noah with the men’s lacrosse team in September 2023.

Noah even got to be on the sidelines right before a game, where he was welcomed by rising Juniors like Owen Duffy. (Submitted photo)

“Our program emphasizes service and how our guys can use their platform as Carolina student-athletes to make a difference in their community and in people’s lives, particularly kids. I wanted to incorporate that when I arrived 17 years ago,” said men’s lacrosse coach Joe Breschi ’90.

“Coach Breschi is amazing in the way that he brings them all together,” said Noah’s mom, Amy. “The guys he brings onto the team are not random. They’re not just good players; they’re good people. He seeks out character.”

Falling into place

In spring 2024, Noah met the team and was given his own jersey. He joins the players weekly after team practice for a game of catch in the weight room. This season he traveled with the team to games at Duke University, High Point University and the ACC Tournament semifinal game in Charlotte — riding the bus and watching movies alongside his teammates.

The Clifton family and the team have grown very close. The Cliftons connect with team parents, attend games and host events at their house. Team members came to Noah’s ninth birthday party, took him to Top Golf and visited him in the hospital after his surgeries.

Noah’s closest teammates

Noah grew particularly close to Grant Pierce ’25 and rising junior Owen Duffy. Pierce and Duffy went trick-or-treating with Noah last October and often play video games and have ice cream dates with him.

Pierce also spent time on the sidelines with Noah while recovering from an ACL injury in 2023.

“Noah has changed the way I look at life. He lives every day to the fullest, while never knowing what’s going to happen. That outlook has rubbed off on me and my teammates,” said Pierce. “He makes me smile every time I see him. I’m blessed to be as close as I am with him and his family. His mom, dad and

Duffy traveled with Noah to Boston’s annual Team IMPACT Game Day Gala, where Noah got to sign his first autographs.(Submitted photo)

sister have made a great impact on me and the rest of the team as well.”

Calling him “the little brother I never had,” Duffy said, “Noah gives me perspective with how happy he is and makes every day brighter when I’m with him.”

When given the opportunity, Noah nominated Duffy for Team IMPACT’s Teammate of the Year award. In May, the pair traveled with the Clifton’s to Boston for Team IMPACT’s annual Game Day Gala where Duffy was presented with the biggest honor of the night, though it is hard to top the bond that’s been forged between the two “brothers.”

“It warms our hearts and touches our souls when they accept Noah for who he is and how he is without expectations,” said Amy. “We see the impact on him being able to be himself. But hearing the impact he’s made on others, we try to tell him about that and build him up.”