The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team welcomed its newest member to the 2019 roster on Monday, signing pitcher and first baseman Jaiden Mehta. Mehta, seventh grader in Keller ISD is now an official member of the Rams, in partnership with Team IMPACT.
Mehta was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2017, but it has not slowed him down or stopped him from inspiring others.
The Keller native is a Wipe Out Kids Cancer Ambassador and a member of the Hope Squad, a suicide prevention organization. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest U.S. born black belt in Hapkido, a style of martial arts, accomplishing the feat at age nine. – from Texas Wesleyan news release
When asked what piece of advice he would give anyone battling the challenges he faces, Mehta simply said, “Always keep a positive mindset”.
The standout is also the co-founder, along with his two brothers, of Baked By Three, a boutique bakery that uses only plant-based, organic goods. A portion of sales go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hostipal.
When Mehta is not volunteering and helping make the world a better place, he serves as the basketball manager on his middle school basketball team. His hobbies include playing the violin, a skill he started in Kindergarten. He also likes playing basketball, practicing Jiu Jitsu, drawing and sketching, cooking and baking, and listening to Garth Brooks.
His favorite movie is Avengers: Infinity War. He is currently doing a Marvel marathon to prepare for the upcoming release of the Avengers: End Game motion picture on April 26. His favorite video game is Fortnite.
The signing day took place inside the Baker Building on the campus of Texas Wesleyan. The event included an introduction from Coach Garza, presentation of his jersey, press conference and plenty of pictures and video.
Jaiden lives in Keller with his parents Niraj and Monica, and his siblings Dylan and Krish.
Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes.
Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,700 children with more than 500 colleges and universities in 49 states, reaching over 50,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child’s support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can’t learn in a classroom