In August 2025, Utah Volleyball announced it had signed a special team member to the position of “Ultimate Ute.” Briar Rose, a nine-year-old girl with a rare genetic disorder called Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS), joined the team through Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit organization that matches children facing serious illness or disability with college athletic teams.
Children with WSS often have autistic tendencies while also being highly social, explains Briar Rose’s mom, Stacie Arnell. At school, Briar Rose struggled socially and experienced bullying, but after joining Utah Volleyball, “there was something magical about the way her confidence grew.”
During her two-year “contract,” Briar Rose is participating in practices, games, and other team events. When the roster is announced at matches, her name is called. She sits on the bench with the team until play begins. She even has her own bio page on the Utah Athletics website (personal details include “expert on Disney princesses” and “favorite foods are KitKats and Pringles”).
The team visits Briar Rose during her stays at Primary Children’s Hospital and has even shown up at her school for recess. Stacie says Briar Rose takes it in stride when the six-foot-tall college women arrive on the playground. “She’s like, ‘Oh, my friends are here, no big deal.’ She feels so much a part of them that she doesn’t even grasp the age difference.”
“We genuinely couldn’t have asked for a more perfect match,” says middle blocker Katelynn Field. “Briar Rose has brought our team together in so many ways. She brings so much joy into our lives.”
Head coach Alyssa D’Errico describes the partnership as a gift—“not just for our athletes, but for our entire staff. Despite carrying more hardships than most people will ever know, Briar Rose shows up with a spirit that lifts every room she walks into. Being part of her happiness has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences in our program.”
Stacie says the team makes it feel like her daughter is blessing them, “but the gift they’ve given her and our family is just incredible. There aren’t words to describe the impact it’s had on her.”
As a graduate of the U (BS ’82’ and MEd ’96’), I couldn’t be more proud of the U Volleyball program for their participation in this program and their acceptance of Briar Rose. As part of this, I am proud of the U Volleyball leaders for seeing how this program is a blessing to the student athletes who are seeing strength and confidence in a small package. The leadership at the U is demonstrating their commitment to the student athlete’s whole being, not just their abilities on the court. Way to go U of U! Always proud to say I’m a UTE!
Thank you for sharing this story with the U community. It’s a wonderful example of the positive impact student-athletes are having on Briar, and the meaningful impact Briar is having on them in return.