February 15, 2018 | Football, Badgers Give Back, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine
Wisconsin football shares special ‘signing day’ with young fan
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Ever had one of those moments where your loftiest expectations were dwarfed by reality?
Nolan Groher and his family experienced one earlier this month, courtesy of the Wisconsin football team.
Nolan is a 6-year-old from Madison who was born with a condition that damaged his bladder and kidneys.
Regular visits to American Family Children's Hospital put the Grohers in touch with the Badgers Give Back Program. That led to Nolan being invited to watch UW practice and attend a home game at Camp Randall Stadium last season.
Who knew there would be more?
Fast forward to Feb. 7 when Nolan and his family — mother Andrea, father Nick and younger sister Hattie — returned to campus for a unique honor.
In conjunction with National Signing Day — when high school football prospects can sign National Letters of Intent with their chosen schools — Nolan was officially added to the Wisconsin family.
You thought we were done on #NSD18, but there's one more very special addition we made to our #Badgers family.
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) February 7, 2018
The Grohers visited UW coach Paul Chryst in his eighth-level office overlooking snow-covered Camp Randall before making their way to the football locker room.
That's where Nolan was greeted by cheerleaders, Bucky Badger and a host of UW student-athletes.
That's where Nolan stepped up to a table next to Chryst, took a pen in his left hand and signed a NLI as his new teammates applauded.
"Welcome to the team," junior nose tackle Olive Sagapolu said with a big grin as he shook Nolan's hand.
Nolan then posed for pictures with Chryst and Co. while getting autographs and munching on cookies.
Nolan was born with posterior urethral valves, which has caused damage to his bladder and kidneys. He had surgery a few days after he was born to remove the valves, so his bladder and kidney functions are stable for now, although he requires catheterization. He gets frequent labs and ultrasounds to keep a close eye on everything.
"Having medical issues is not usually a positive experience, so to have him able to be a part of something so special has really been unbelievable for all of us," Andrea Groher wrote in an email.
"Not only has he gained so much confidence, he has been able to see really inspiring people that he is able to look up to and feel connected to."
Let's get to work then NOLAN ! Welcome to the fam !
— Chris Orr (@Chris_Guwap) February 7, 2018
Before Nolan left the locker room, he showed his fellow Badgers student-athletes a thing or two about playing ping-pong.
"Everyone has truly gone above and beyond," Andrea wrote.
The Grohers thought the initial invitation to see practice and a Badgers game — the interaction with the student-athletes and coaches — would be the sustaining highlight for their son.
The additional signing day extravaganza was "incredibly special," Andrea wrote.
"We are so grateful and feel so lucky to have been a part of this. He has gone through so much and has overcome so much and it will continue to be an ongoing challenge for all of us.
"This experience has truly been such a blessing and has given Nolan the confidence and inspiration that will last a lifetime."
