The New Orleans Privateers baseball team was in attendance for an impact signing as Dontae Brister put pen to paper on Monday afternoon at the Human Performance Center.
Dontae is 11 years old from Slidell, La. He comes to the Lakefront from Team IMPACT. Dontae will be an integral part of the Privateers clubhouse, inspiring his teammates and coaches to go the extra mile always with a smile on your face, to face adversity head on, and to be grateful for the challenges you have overcome. Dontae was heavily recruited by other programs, but ultimately decided on the Privateers and Head Coach Dax Norris for their camaraderie and commitment to inclusion on all levels.
Team IMPACT is a national organization that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved. University of New Orleans Athletics is a proud partner with Team IMPACT, with Privateer Track & Field also having a matched teammate. For more information on Team IMPACT, to get involved or to donate to their mission please visit
www.teamimpact.org.
Supporting Dontae are his grandparents Vicky and Arthur, his Team IMPACT Case Manager Kirsten Robinson, Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services Phillip Pinkston, Director of Baseball Operations Megan Steinmetz, and the Team IMPACT UNO Baseball Leadership Team, comprised of student-athletes Bryce Calloway, Matt Gonzalez, Collin Husser, Karson Evans, Jahlani Rogers, and Justin Best.
QUOTES
Dax Norris
“Adding Dontae to our roster is a significant milestone for our program. As a team, community service is a large focus as we prepare our young men for life after the diamond. Through our time spent with Dontae and his family, our players are learning that opportunities like this are bigger than baseball, that they can make an impact on the world far beyond their at bats or innings pitched.”
Karson Evans
“I’m more proud of the friendship and empathy skills I’ve developed with Dontae than any stat in a record book. I’ve learned how to handle situations I may not be the most comfortable in, how to talk to people who may not look like me or have the same abilities I do, and how to just have fun on the baseball field. Getting to spend time hanging out with him, watching him cheer us on at games, is proof that baseball can have a positive impact on people. I’m glad we got a chance to have Dontae join our team, and I hope we get to continue this relationship for years to come.”
Jahlani Rogers
“We got to have Dontae come out to our Halloween costume practice and judge our costumes. Getting to hand out candy and have him trick or treat around the bases was great, seeing his smile and joking about who had the best costume. That will be one of my favorite memories of my time at UNO, and it wouldn’t have happened without Team IMPACT!”
