When Brooke joined Princeton softball through Team IMPACT in July 2023, it didn’t take long for her to feel right at home. The 17-year-old lives with cerebral palsy and connected almost immediately with the Tigers. From the very beginning, the team made sure Brooke was included in everything, whether it was on the field, in the dugout, or in the active group chat.
Throughout the year, Brooke and her teammates built a bond that extended far beyond game days. They celebrated holidays together, painted pumpkins, and attended awareness events for cerebral palsy to stand proudly by Brooke’s side. Between video calls, campus hangouts, and cheering at other Princeton sporting events, the Tigers and Brooke made sure their friendship was woven into every part of their lives.
At the center of that connection was Brooke’s special relationship with Princeton softball player Abby Hornberg. Abby became Brooke’s “big sister” on the team and her go-to person for jokes, pep talks, and everything in between. So when it came time to nominate a 2025 Teammate of the Year, Brooke knew exactly who had her vote.
“Abby has embraced me like a big sister. Abby introduced me to all the new teammates and made sure they knew how special I am,” Brooke said. “She calls me the team’s ‘good luck charm.’”
Over the years, Brooke and Abby developed what Brooke calls “a special bond.” “We share jokes, stories, and pep talks,” Brooke said. “Abby is my go-to person. She always makes my heart happy.”
Brooke said Abby always goes above and beyond to include her in everything. “Whether it’s on or off the field, we’re always having fun,” she shared. Some of her favorite moments with Abby are attending other sporting events on campus, throwing t-shirts into the crowd, and sitting in the student section. These moments—and the dozens of others with her Tigers—have shaped Brooke, transformed the way she sees herself, and taught her lessons she will carry with her forever.
This past June, Brooke graduated from Team IMPACT, but graduation doesn’t mean goodbye. She and the Tigers are determined to keep their connection strong for years to come. Before she left, Brooke wrote poems for the seniors, and her mom wrote a heartfelt letter to the team, expressing how much it meant for Brooke—and for their whole family—to be embraced as part of Princeton Softball. “The whole entire team, coaches, and especially Abby have given me self-confidence and taught me how to step out of my comfort zone and be brave to try new things I never dreamed were possible,” Brooke said. “Abby taught me so many valuable life lessons, and one I will cherish forever is a motto of Princeton softball, that is ‘Team Over Self.’ Go Tigers!”
At Team IMPACT, we believe friendships like Brooke and Abby’s are what it’s all about: teammates who become family, lessons that last a lifetime, and a community that reminds us that we’re always stronger together.
