Deaf Division I athletes

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Bballchk4lf

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Hello,
My name is Crystal and I am a graduating senior at Cal State University, Northridge. I am actually a Deaf Studies major starting my senior project and I wanted to see if there is a place I can obtain a list of Deaf athletes through history up until now that got scholarships at the Division one level. Can anyone send me in the right direction? I might focus on basketball and I might focus on Deaf athletes and their experiences today. Thanks for any help :ty:
 
DEAF ATHLETES Too few are given shot at big time
by Omaha World-Herald

Ryan Bonheyo probably is unaware of Kenny Walker. After all, Bonheyo, a high-school senior in Ellicott City, Md., wasn't even born when Walker starred as a defensive tackle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers two decades ago.

Yet the two share a permanent bond nonetheless. Both are deaf, and both earned scholarships to play Division I football.

Bonheyo recently signed a letter of intent to Towson University, becoming one of only a handful of deaf athletes to receive a Division I football scholarship. He was a star running back and linebacker for Maryland School for the Deaf, one of only nine such schools in the country that fields an 11-man football team. (Iowa School for the Deaf is one of the others; Nebraska Deaf had been one before it closed in 1998.)

Bonheyo's achievement is particularly impressive, given that few deaf athletes have received scholarships in any sport. A Washington Post story reported that in the 19 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, scholarships for deaf athletes have averaged less than one a year. There are only a few current or recent deaf football players on top-level NCAA teams.

Symptomatic of the problem, tiny Towson was the only school to offer Bonheyo -- Maryland Deaf's alltime leading rusher -- a scholarship. He will face a challenge similar to what Walker initially encountered at NU: Prove that a deaf athlete can not only play Division I football but also excel at it.

Walker did more than show he belonged: He emerged as one of the nation's most dominant and inspiring players and earned All-America honors. Husker fans showed their affection for him through their "silent applause." This hand-waving gesture became a staple of NU games in the late 1980s.

Walker went on to play briefly in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. Even though he spent just a short time in professional football, he left a lasting impression: He is one of only two deaf players in NFL history.

Time will tell whether Ryan Bonheyo can equal those feats at Towson U., but what's more important is that he will get the chance.
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FOX Sports on MSN - COLLEGE FOOTBALL - DEAF ATHLETES Too few are given shot at big time
 
Thank you both for your help... I could not figure out how to get back here until today and I have narrowed my study down to deaf athletes in division one from residential schools such as Ryan Bonheyo and Michael Lizarraga at CSUN... I also need to find information on past athletes in the same category such as Sammy Oates, Don Lyons, and Garry Washington... Thanks again for the help it is greatly appreciated! :)
 
Actually, there is too few deafies playing in the Div. I sports so it might be of no use for you to do the research, maybe. But ofc, you're free to do it, and we would love to read 'em.

I agree with the Fox News that there are some deaf athletes who deserved to play in the Div. I in the past but were overlooked and discriminated like usual. Shame! Yet it seems to start popping with few ones nowadays which is great and hope to turn it around bit more.
 
I had a scholarship to play Division I fast-pitch softball in 1992 at an University in New Mexico but I turned it down. A big regret on my part.
 
shel90 said:
I had a scholarship to play Division I fast-pitch softball in 1992 at an University in New Mexico but I turned it down. A big regret on my part.
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Oh, really... you must be (was) that good a softball player!

Maybe you really did make a right decision, otherwise?!
 
shel90 said:
I had a scholarship to play Division I fast-pitch softball in 1992 at an University in New Mexico but I turned it down. A big regret on my part.
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OoOoO damn. did you pitch the ball up in the air (curve) or the flat? just curious. i used to play softball too. I was never good enough at pitching but there were no choice. You know how deaf school teams are. lol I was on hearing team and usually played second base. man i missed playing softball!
 
DI athletes

Ohio State (Columbus Ohio) had a deaf golfer a few years back. He currently is on one of the tours (I do not think it is the major tour).

You may want to search their web pages or contact their SID.
 
Martel Van Zant used to play football for Oklahoma State University a couple years ago, and right now, he's undrafted free agent.
 
web730 said:
Oh, really... you must be (was) that good a softball player!

Maybe you really did make a right decision, otherwise?!
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I was extremely competitive...that was what attracted the scouts...good or not? Only they can answer that. I always felt I could do better. :lol:
 
Frisky Feline said:
OoOoO damn. did you pitch the ball up in the air (curve) or the flat? just curious. i used to play softball too. I was never good enough at pitching but there were no choice. You know how deaf school teams are. lol I was on hearing team and usually played second base. man i missed playing softball!
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I could throw all kinds of pitches...always had trouble with the drop balls. My best pitches were the rise balls.

Honestly, I dont know how deaf schools teams are since I never attended a deaf school growing up.
 
shel90 said:
I could throw all kinds of pitches...always had trouble with the drop balls. My best pitches were the rise balls.

Honestly, I dont know how deaf schools teams are since I never attended a deaf school growing up.
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Oh speaking of certain Deaf schools had a very few good players, not many good players. I started playing softball at age 8 and was very familiar with every positions for softball. We usually got the last place. :giggle:
Strangely enough, I was good at pitching for the deaf school but not for the hearing teams. I was good at second bases or third bases for the hearing teams (2 different teams). I had never been good with the drop balls too. I usually pitches were the rise balls or flat fast balls. I do miss softball. ha
 
Thanks again

Thanks everyone for your input :) Martel Van Zant actually played at a public high school and my focus in on division one from residential schools... Thank you for the mention of the golfer from Ohio state named Kevin Hall :) He went to a residential school and played sports mainstreamed.
 
It's probably too late for you to use, but Sam Oates played football for the Texas School for the Deaf. Played college ball at Hardin-Simmons University (TX) and was drafted, but cut, by the Houston Oilers. He played pro football for a couple of years in Canada. You can find more info about him in the book Deaf Heritage.
 
Hello :)

Here former Women Softball and Basketball :)
 
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