From Underdogs to Champions

    I’ll never forget the moment when the clock ran out. The game was over. The score was 80 to 26. We hadn’t just won. We had demolished the other team. 

    Fans ran onto the field. People fist-bumped and hugged me. Our coach held up the state championship plaque for everyone to see.

    I couldn’t hear it, but I knew the crowd was going wild.

    I’ll never forget the moment when the clock finally ran out. The game was over, and the scoreboard read 80 to 26. We hadn’t just won—we had demolished the other team. 

    Hundreds of fans ran onto the field. Everywhere I turned, someone was fist-bumping or hugging me. Our coach held up the state championship plaque for everyone to see.

    Although I couldn’t hear it, I knew the crowd was going wild.

    I’ve always loved sports. Through the years, I’ve played soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and football. Some people are surprised to learn that I come from a whole family of athletes. That’s because I was born Deaf, just like my parents and all three of my sisters.

    Not all Deaf people are the same. Sometimes deafness runs in families, like mine. Other times, people lose their hearing because of a disease or an injury. Some Deaf people can hear a little bit. I can’t hear anything at all.

    I’ve gone to California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR), since I was a baby. I feel so grateful for that. It’s a school just for students who are Deaf. 

    Everyone who goes to CSDR or works there knows American Sign Language (ASL). Other than that, it’s just like any other school. We have classes, clubs, and sports teams.

    I’ve always loved sports. I’ve played soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and football. Some people are surprised to learn that I come from a family of athletes. That’s because I was born Deaf. My parents and my three sisters were too.

    Not all Deaf people are the same. Sometimes deafness runs in families, like mine. Some people lose their hearing because of a disease or an injury. Some Deaf people can hear a little bit. I can’t hear at all.

    I’ve gone to California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR), since I was a baby. I’m grateful for that. It’s a school just for Deaf students.

    All the CSDR students know American Sign Language (ASL). The whole staff does too. Other than that, it’s like any other school. We have classes, clubs, and sports teams.

    I’ve always loved sports. Through the years, I’ve played soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and football. People are sometimes surprised to learn that I come from a whole family of athletes. That’s because I was born Deaf, just like my parents and all three of my sisters.

    Not all Deaf people are the same. Sometimes deafness runs in families, like mine. Other times, people lose their hearing because of a disease or an injury. While some Deaf people can hear a little bit, I can’t hear anything at all.

    I’ve gone to California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR), since I was a baby, and I’m deeply grateful for that. It’s a school just for students who are Deaf.

Everyone who goes to CSDR or works there knows American Sign Language (ASL)—but aside from that, it’s just like any other school. We have classes, clubs, and     sports teams.

    At a hearing school, things would be hard for me. I would need to have an interpreter with me at all times. I wouldn’t be able to have conversations and get all the details without help.

    At CSDR, I can communicate with everyone. I can be independent. I have full access to every class, activity, and club.

    CSDR has Deaf sports teams. I love that. I was on a hearing basketball team as a kid. I often felt left out. It was like people expected me to mess up because I’m Deaf. I had to prove myself every day.

    I can do everything a hearing person can—except hear. The other athletes at CSDR know that. We are used to being underestimated. Many teams that face us expect an easy win. 

    If I attended a hearing school, I would need to have an interpreter with me at all times. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy full conversations, where I get all the details, without assistance.

    At CSDR, I can communicate independently with everyone and have complete access to every class, after-school activity, and club.

    One of the best parts of going to CSDR is playing on Deaf sports teams. I was on a hearing basketball team as a kid, and I often felt left out. It was like everyone was expecting me to make mistakes because I’m Deaf. I had to prove myself every single day.

    In reality, I can do everything a hearing person can—except hear. The other athletes at CSDR understand that. We’re used to being underestimated. Many teams that face us expect an easy win.

    Last year, I was a freshman. I joined the CSDR football team. I knew we had unfinished business. The year before, I was the team’s ball boy. I was there when they won 12 games in a row.

    And I was there when they lost the state championship game. They lost to the Faith Baptist Contenders, a hearing team. I wanted to help the Cubs get another chance at the state title.

    As a freshman, I didn’t expect to play much. But then my friend Felix broke his leg. He was a senior and a wide receiver. Our coach asked me to take Felix’s spot. I was ready to prove myself. I worked hard. I probably drove the older players crazy with all my questions. But it helped. I got faster and stronger.

    After a winning season, we made it to the state title game. We learned we would be playing the Contenders again. That made us even more determined to win.

    Last year, when I joined the CSDR football team as a freshman, I knew we had unfinished business. I had been the team’s ball boy the year before, and I was there when they surprised everyone by winning 12 games in a row. 

    I was also there when they lost the state championship game to the Faith Baptist Contenders, a hearing team. I wanted nothing more than to help the Cubs get another chance at the state title.

    Because I was a freshman, I didn’t expect to get much playing time—but then my friend Felix, who was a senior and a wide receiver, broke his leg. Our coach asked me to take Felix’s spot. I was ready to prove myself, and I worked hard every day. I probably drove the older players crazy with all my questions, but it helped. I got faster and stronger.

    After a winning season, we made it to the state title game. We learned we would be playing the Contenders again, which made us even more determined to win. We had worked hard all season to prove that we could succeed.