Miss-Delectable
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Deaf player resounding influence on Northridge - Inside Bay Area
He is believed to be the first deaf athlete playing in the NCAA Tournament, but Michael Lizarraga isn't concerned with making history. Only that he and his Cal State Northridge teammates are here.
"It's just like, 'Wow,' it's amazing I get to be here with the team and playing this tournament,' " Lizarraga, a sophomore forward from the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, said through an American sign language interpreter. "It's hard to put into words. It's the best feeling I could describe. It's so much fun."
Lizarraga isn't likely to play today against No. 2 seed Memphis — he's averaged 1.6 points and 0.9 rebounds while seeing action in just eight games. But coach Bobby Braswell said he's an important part of the squad.
"He's really an inspiration to all of us. He does contribute. He may not contribute in games, although I would never hesitate to use him," Braswell said. "Our guys will tell you they hate to go against Mike in practice, because he goes after them. He's a necessary part of what we've done."
Lizarraga, whose younger sister Natalie played this season on the CSD girls basketball team, said he's received lots of support from the deaf community through his page on Facebook.
"They're just so excited that I'm the only deaf player who's made it to March Madness," he said. "They say 'Beat Memphis.' We just want to play hard and show who we are, show our heart. We have nothing to lose."
Northridge is home to the largest population of deaf students of any mainstream university in the country and features the National Center for the Deaf on its campus.
He is believed to be the first deaf athlete playing in the NCAA Tournament, but Michael Lizarraga isn't concerned with making history. Only that he and his Cal State Northridge teammates are here.
"It's just like, 'Wow,' it's amazing I get to be here with the team and playing this tournament,' " Lizarraga, a sophomore forward from the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, said through an American sign language interpreter. "It's hard to put into words. It's the best feeling I could describe. It's so much fun."
Lizarraga isn't likely to play today against No. 2 seed Memphis — he's averaged 1.6 points and 0.9 rebounds while seeing action in just eight games. But coach Bobby Braswell said he's an important part of the squad.
"He's really an inspiration to all of us. He does contribute. He may not contribute in games, although I would never hesitate to use him," Braswell said. "Our guys will tell you they hate to go against Mike in practice, because he goes after them. He's a necessary part of what we've done."
Lizarraga, whose younger sister Natalie played this season on the CSD girls basketball team, said he's received lots of support from the deaf community through his page on Facebook.
"They're just so excited that I'm the only deaf player who's made it to March Madness," he said. "They say 'Beat Memphis.' We just want to play hard and show who we are, show our heart. We have nothing to lose."
Northridge is home to the largest population of deaf students of any mainstream university in the country and features the National Center for the Deaf on its campus.