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Deaf player won't quit | www.tucsoncitizen.com ®
Making the Canyon del Oro High School football roster was hardly the first obstacle Jacob Sandoval overcame in his life.
Doctors diagnosed the 17-year-old with low muscle tone at birth and with mild muscular dystrophy at 7 months.
"It was overwhelming at the time," said Jacob's mother, Rose Sandoval, who works security at CDO.
Physical therapy helped him overcome the muscular dystrophy as a toddler. But then he was diagnosed with permanent hearing loss at age 3.
"With the deafness, it was easier for us to accept it," Rose Sandoval said. "We cried and then let it go."
But Jacob refused to let go of his dream of playing sports. With help from sign language interpreters, he is a backup receiver/defensive back for CDO (4-1), which travels to Cienega (3-1) Friday in the Tucson Citizen Spotlight Game.
"I love football," Sandoval said through interpreter Amy Franks. "I am always feeling excited and ready to play."
The 5-foot-7, 145-pound senior paid his dues on the freshman and junior varsity squads before being promoted to the varsity in his final season. He's seen action in two of CDO's five games.
"He comes out every practice and works real hard," coach Pat Nugent said.
Franks and other interpreters provided by the school help Sandoval in the classroom and on the sidelines in games and practice. They relate play calls and pep talks from coaches - and calls from the referees.
"It's a little bit of weird feeling," said Nugent, "knowing there is an interpreter at practice and on the sidelines listening in on everything said."
Sandoval is among five deaf students on campus. He takes a normal class load and is the first hearing-impaired player in the school's football program history.
Growing up, Jacob took speech therapy and sign language sessions with his parents and older siblings. His father, Ruben, is a federal law enforcement agent.
His older sister, Christine, graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in sign language interpreting.
"I'm happy for my sister because she has been able to communicate with me," Jacob related through his interpreter.
From an early age, he made it clear to his parents that growing up isolated from the mainstream was not an option.
Despite the obstacles, he wanted to live, go to school and play alongside all the other kids his age.
Most importantly, he made it clear he wanted to communicate as best he could with other kids his age who could hear.
With the help of interpreters, he's not only been able to communicate with his peers, he's able to join them in their daily activities, including sports.
Jacob steered clear of baseball, his first passion, because he thought he was too weak to be successful at it. Instead, the strong-willed teenager chose to tackle football.
He may not be a starter, but considering the struggles he overcame just to make the team, Jacob will appreciate any time he gets on the field Friday against Cienega or in the future.
"He is a very strong person," Rose Sandoval said. "Whatever minutes he gets to play, we cherish that."
Making the Canyon del Oro High School football roster was hardly the first obstacle Jacob Sandoval overcame in his life.
Doctors diagnosed the 17-year-old with low muscle tone at birth and with mild muscular dystrophy at 7 months.
"It was overwhelming at the time," said Jacob's mother, Rose Sandoval, who works security at CDO.
Physical therapy helped him overcome the muscular dystrophy as a toddler. But then he was diagnosed with permanent hearing loss at age 3.
"With the deafness, it was easier for us to accept it," Rose Sandoval said. "We cried and then let it go."
But Jacob refused to let go of his dream of playing sports. With help from sign language interpreters, he is a backup receiver/defensive back for CDO (4-1), which travels to Cienega (3-1) Friday in the Tucson Citizen Spotlight Game.
"I love football," Sandoval said through interpreter Amy Franks. "I am always feeling excited and ready to play."
The 5-foot-7, 145-pound senior paid his dues on the freshman and junior varsity squads before being promoted to the varsity in his final season. He's seen action in two of CDO's five games.
"He comes out every practice and works real hard," coach Pat Nugent said.
Franks and other interpreters provided by the school help Sandoval in the classroom and on the sidelines in games and practice. They relate play calls and pep talks from coaches - and calls from the referees.
"It's a little bit of weird feeling," said Nugent, "knowing there is an interpreter at practice and on the sidelines listening in on everything said."
Sandoval is among five deaf students on campus. He takes a normal class load and is the first hearing-impaired player in the school's football program history.
Growing up, Jacob took speech therapy and sign language sessions with his parents and older siblings. His father, Ruben, is a federal law enforcement agent.
His older sister, Christine, graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in sign language interpreting.
"I'm happy for my sister because she has been able to communicate with me," Jacob related through his interpreter.
From an early age, he made it clear to his parents that growing up isolated from the mainstream was not an option.
Despite the obstacles, he wanted to live, go to school and play alongside all the other kids his age.
Most importantly, he made it clear he wanted to communicate as best he could with other kids his age who could hear.
With the help of interpreters, he's not only been able to communicate with his peers, he's able to join them in their daily activities, including sports.
Jacob steered clear of baseball, his first passion, because he thought he was too weak to be successful at it. Instead, the strong-willed teenager chose to tackle football.
He may not be a starter, but considering the struggles he overcame just to make the team, Jacob will appreciate any time he gets on the field Friday against Cienega or in the future.
"He is a very strong person," Rose Sandoval said. "Whatever minutes he gets to play, we cherish that."
