In July of 2011, Cadet 4/c Tyler (Morel) Smith, a Marine Engineering major and member of the Buccaneer men's lacrosse team, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Since the diagnosis, the previous ten years of Tyler's life are truly inspiring and have been a full circle journey.

A Falmouth, Ma native and son of Massachusetts Maritime Academy Alum Brian Smith '01, Facilities Engineering, Tyler was connected with Boston-based non-profit organization TeamImpact shortly after his ALL diagnoses when his mother Paula heard about them from a friend. TeamImpact is an organization that pairs ill and disabled children with college athletic teams in and around their community with the goal of fostering healthy social and emotional development. The Smith family signed Tyler up and TeamImpact began looking for a good place for him.

When a child joins a team they are "drafted" by that program and sign a letter of intent and officially become a part of the team. Initially, Tyler wanted to join the Boston College hockey team and after much deliberation the Smith's decided it was best to keep Ty closer to Falmouth. While he is more of a hockey fan and lacrosse player, Smith was paired with and joined the Buccaneer baseball team as the first TeamImpact team member in Massachusetts Maritime Academy Athletics. To make Tyler feel as at home as possible then head coach Bob Corradi had a locker set up in the baseball locker room for him which is still there today.

"Tyler joined our program with a little hesitation at first because it was new and unknown. He quickly became a part of the team and the players embraced him as one of their own and almost like a younger brother. Knowing his dad definitely helped out the situation." Said Assistant baseball coach Greg Perry. 

Tyler quickly caught on with then Buccaneers Tyler Smith, no relation, Chris Gallagher and Matt Pelliter. Tyler and Tyler became friends not only at the field but off the field as well and to this day the two stay in touch. Tyler would attend practices and games and often spend time in the dugout with the coaches, mostly coach perry and the training staff.

"Tyler was always a quiet kid but since he often would stand with me in the dugout I would always catch him smiling if the players or coaches said silly or slightly off color things." Said Coach Perry.

After graduating the TeamImpact program Tyler remained in touch with Tyler and took a liking to not only Buccaneer athletics but the school as a whole. Having the connection of his father and now being a part of the baseball team definitely fostered that.

Tyler fought back ALL and went into remission in 2014. Over the next two years in the 7th and 8th grades, Smith attended the ASLP program at the Academy. At the conclusion of the program he was awarded a full tuition scholarship to Mass Maritime for being top in his class.

"My dad came here, I wanted to come here. It was awesome being a part of the baseball program for that time and it was pretty cool to be able to come here on a full scholarship after putting in all of that work." Tyler said. "I would really like to be a part of the ASLP program as a Cadet to see the next generation of Maritimers coming up."

In 2016, the Smith family moved to Hampstead, North Carolina where Tyler attended Topsail High School. There he played four years of lacrosse and shined on the field as the team's starting faceoff man. 

In 2020, Tyler and his family moved back to Falmouth and he prepared to officially become a cadet candidate at the Academy after nine years of connections to the institution and having his father talking all things Maritime around him for his whole life.

"What enticed me to come to Mass Maritime is knowing that a lot of graduates, my dad and his friends included, who had a job upon graduating having learned so many skills that can help you throughout life, professionally and personally." Said Smith. 

When Tyler was asked about his journey overall he said, "A lot of the journey, from being sick to now being a Cadet, is about giving back. So many people in this community and beyond have done so much for me in my life and giving back is something I want to do for others."

Tyler added, "There is a sense of community at Mass Maritime. Seeing so many familiar faces that are still here from when I was with TeamImpact is comforting. Coach Perry, Colleen Nolan to name a couple, it gives you a sense of family. Those small, personal relationships you build here are so important."

Tyler Smith will complete his first year at the Academy this Spring and has already played in both of the men's lacrosse games in 2021.