At Team IMPACT, we believe the most powerful moments in sports aren’t always found on the scoreboard. They’re found in the relationships that change lives and the friendships that shape futures. In our Friendship Series, we celebrate those connections through all the student-athletes who were nominated for Teammate of the Year.
It’s rare to find a pair that embodies that spirit more than Jenni Anne and Berkeley from Georgia Tech Cheer.
Jenni Anne is 13 years old and lives with genetic and neurological disorders, including Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome and Chiari Malformation. She was matched with the Georgia Tech cheer team in April of 2024, and she has brought strength, humor, and heart to her team every day since. And alongside her is Berkeley, a teammate, a mentor, and, as Jenni Anne proudly calls her, her “GT Bestie.”
From the very beginning, there was something special about their connection. Jenni Anne felt at ease with Berkeley right away, and that comfort quickly turned into something deeper—a friendship built on trust, laughter, and understanding. It’s no surprise that Jenni Anne nominated Berkeley for Team IMPACT’s Teammate of the Year. Jenni Anne describes her “GT bestie” as the person she wants to call after a great day at school, when things get hard, or when she is sick. It’s a connection built not just on shared time but on genuine understanding and acceptance of exactly who the other is.
That sense of ease didn’t happen by accident. Jenni Anne’s mom, Abbi, shared, “From the moment Jenni Anne met Berkeley, you could tell it was going to be a very special friendship. Jenni Anne felt so comfortable with Berkeley from day one and we noticed how natural their conversations were.” This comfort helped Jenni Anne ease into a normality she doesn’t always get to feel. “When Jenni Anne is with Berkeley and the tea, we get to watch her be a ‘normal’ teen,” Abbi said. “For just a little bit, the hard has disappeared, and she just gets to be Jenni Anne, a normal teenage girl laughing with her friends.”
For Abbi, this means more than words can say. “As a parent of a child with additional needs, it means the world to see your child not only accepted but genuinely loved and understood,” she said. “Watching the special bond between Jenni Anne and Berkeley has been such a gift, and it’s hard to put into words just how meaningful it is.”
Abbi has noticed Berkeley’s impact comes from the care she puts into every interaction, through both the big gestures and the everyday moments. “One special thing about Berkeley is she is so intentional,” Abbi said. Berkeley not only includes Jenni Anne but makes sure she is fully integrated into the team culture. And it’s not just Jenni Anne but her sister, Caroline, who feel the embrace of Berkeley and the entire team. Whether it’s giving a heads-up about unexpected schedule changes, helping Jenni Anne navigate environments she can find overstimulating, attending Jenni Anne’s events and catering to her interests, Berkeley approaches every interaction with thoughtfulness and care.
Their friendship doesn’t stop at practices or games. It carries into everyday life: the weekly FaceTime calls, homework help, and rounds of Jenni Anne’s favorite game, Uno. “This is a special time that Jenni Anne holds sacred and is the best part of her week,” Abbi said. “It is so special to get to listen to the phone calls and watch the most genuine interactions unfold.”
Berkeley always makes time to foster and prioritize her friendship with Jenni Anne. Her commitment extends beyond friendship into advocacy. She has included Jenni Anne and Caroline in her master’s thesis work, helping create a “special workshop” designed to improve how kids with medical needs are understood by their peers. “This is something that Jenni Anne looks forward to and is so proud to be a part of helping Berkeley, but it also shines a light on how truly incredible Berkeley is and what a big heart she has,” Abbi said. Berkeley actively participates in Jenni Anne’s family’s annual fundraiser for Weidemann-Steiner Syndrome. “It means so much to Jenni Anne that Berkeley comes along with some of the other cheerleaders, even though it is right before finals and a super busy time for them,” Abbi said. “Throughout the entire time, she let Jenni Anne lead the way around the event. She encouraged her and listened. It’s a reflection of who Berkeley is—someone who not only shows up but works to make the world more inclusive.
Through it all, Jenni Anne’s confidence has grown “leaps and bounds,” Abbi said. And it has been such a joy for her to see her daughter be able to put her challenges on the back burner of her mind and just get to feel like a typical teenage girl.
“Berkeley has made it possible for us as parents to see Jenni Anne truly have a best friend, and that is the greatest gift.”
