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Deafness doesn't deter Waynesburg wrestler - Washington Greene PA Sports - www.observer-reporter.com
On this night, Michael Weidner-Yetter is struggling to score points on the wrestling mat against a more talented opponent. Along the side of the mat stands Ocie Mechtel, who is waving her arms and signaling Weidner-Yetter with her hands.
An overzealous fan?
A very protected family member?
Mechtel is none of the above. She is the educational interpreter for Weidner-Yetter, who is deaf but has not let this interrupt his desires to participate in athletics at Waynesburg High School.
"On most days, I am with him from early morning to night," Mechtel said.
Weidner-Yetter, who grew up in Elizabeth, N.J., and moved to Waynesburg three years ago, lost his hearing from a genetic condition at age 5.
Weidner-Yetter's real love is football so he played fullback and defensive tackle for the Raiders. He competes in wrestling, mostly at 215 but, during a Waynesburg win over Upper St. Clair on this night, at heavyweight, because the team needed him there.
"They didn't have a heavyweight," said Weidner-Yetter. "I wanted to give them my support."
Weidner-Yetter also wrestled at 215 last season, compiling an 8-13 record, helping the Raiders win the Section 4B championship and earn a berth in the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Throckmorton yells at Weidner-Yetter during a match, just like any other Waynesburg wrestler. Sometimes, he is so caught up in the bout, that he doesn't remember Weidner-Yetter can't hear him.
"Without his earpiece in, he's completely deaf," Throckmorton said. "He reads lips better than anyone I know."
Mechtel, a graduate of Washington High School and Pitt who is doing postgraduate work at Waynesburg University, said Weidner-Yetter is the only deaf student in the high school. As a double major in history and political science, she didn't expect to be doing this type of work. When the need arose, she jumped at the opportunity.
"I interpret for him in the classroom and in sports," she said. "In football, when there was a timeout on the field, I would go to the huddle so he knew what the coach was saying."
Weidner-Yetter's varsity football career began under Scott Orndoff, who coached the Raiders for two seasons before Joe Kuhns was hired in 2009.
"Mikey was a pleasure and Ocie made it really easy," Orndoff said. "She had to learn our calls. When we called plays, she was there on the sidelines. She would come with me to the huddle on timeouts. I had to tell the officials that Ocie was an interpreter and not a water girl."
Orndoff was impressed with how well Weidner-Yetter learned the plays.
"He had very few missed assignments," said Orndoff. "We used him at fullback and nose guard so he could watch the (snap) and not have to worry about the signals."
Weidner-Yetter played a lot in junior varsity games and Orndoff said he was an effective player.
"He was a tough kid," Orndoff said. "I knew he would work his way into the (varsity) starting lineup. The kids were protective of him. It was like, 'We can mess with Mikey, but no one else better.'"
Throckmorton has developed his own signals for Weidner-Yetter and uses them in practice - Mechtel doesn't attend these sessions. Throckmorton's 19-year-old daughter, Alyssa, has Down Syndrome and that experience has helped in his handling of Weidner-Yetter.
"I want to treat them the same as anyone else," he said. "We have no problems communicating. He's been with us and he understands us coaches. That's why he's improved."
The only adjustment made for Weidner-Yetter during a wrestling match deals with the referee. He is informed before the match about Weidner-Yetter and asked to simply tap him on the shoulder when the whistle is blown to stop action or to end a period.
Against Upper St. Clair, the referee accidentally touched Weidner-Yetter and he stopped wrestling for a moment before realizing the mistake.
"Some referees are not used to it," Throckmorton said. "If (his opponent) doesn't go after him, he will take it to you."
Weidner-Yetter has the same goals all wrestlers have, and doesn't mind working hard to reach them.
"I want a good record," he said. "I want to do well in the sections and get to states."
That would be one trip Mechtel would love to make.
On this night, Michael Weidner-Yetter is struggling to score points on the wrestling mat against a more talented opponent. Along the side of the mat stands Ocie Mechtel, who is waving her arms and signaling Weidner-Yetter with her hands.
An overzealous fan?
A very protected family member?
Mechtel is none of the above. She is the educational interpreter for Weidner-Yetter, who is deaf but has not let this interrupt his desires to participate in athletics at Waynesburg High School.
"On most days, I am with him from early morning to night," Mechtel said.
Weidner-Yetter, who grew up in Elizabeth, N.J., and moved to Waynesburg three years ago, lost his hearing from a genetic condition at age 5.
Weidner-Yetter's real love is football so he played fullback and defensive tackle for the Raiders. He competes in wrestling, mostly at 215 but, during a Waynesburg win over Upper St. Clair on this night, at heavyweight, because the team needed him there.
"They didn't have a heavyweight," said Weidner-Yetter. "I wanted to give them my support."
Weidner-Yetter also wrestled at 215 last season, compiling an 8-13 record, helping the Raiders win the Section 4B championship and earn a berth in the WPIAL Team Tournament.
Throckmorton yells at Weidner-Yetter during a match, just like any other Waynesburg wrestler. Sometimes, he is so caught up in the bout, that he doesn't remember Weidner-Yetter can't hear him.
"Without his earpiece in, he's completely deaf," Throckmorton said. "He reads lips better than anyone I know."
Mechtel, a graduate of Washington High School and Pitt who is doing postgraduate work at Waynesburg University, said Weidner-Yetter is the only deaf student in the high school. As a double major in history and political science, she didn't expect to be doing this type of work. When the need arose, she jumped at the opportunity.
"I interpret for him in the classroom and in sports," she said. "In football, when there was a timeout on the field, I would go to the huddle so he knew what the coach was saying."
Weidner-Yetter's varsity football career began under Scott Orndoff, who coached the Raiders for two seasons before Joe Kuhns was hired in 2009.
"Mikey was a pleasure and Ocie made it really easy," Orndoff said. "She had to learn our calls. When we called plays, she was there on the sidelines. She would come with me to the huddle on timeouts. I had to tell the officials that Ocie was an interpreter and not a water girl."
Orndoff was impressed with how well Weidner-Yetter learned the plays.
"He had very few missed assignments," said Orndoff. "We used him at fullback and nose guard so he could watch the (snap) and not have to worry about the signals."
Weidner-Yetter played a lot in junior varsity games and Orndoff said he was an effective player.
"He was a tough kid," Orndoff said. "I knew he would work his way into the (varsity) starting lineup. The kids were protective of him. It was like, 'We can mess with Mikey, but no one else better.'"
Throckmorton has developed his own signals for Weidner-Yetter and uses them in practice - Mechtel doesn't attend these sessions. Throckmorton's 19-year-old daughter, Alyssa, has Down Syndrome and that experience has helped in his handling of Weidner-Yetter.
"I want to treat them the same as anyone else," he said. "We have no problems communicating. He's been with us and he understands us coaches. That's why he's improved."
The only adjustment made for Weidner-Yetter during a wrestling match deals with the referee. He is informed before the match about Weidner-Yetter and asked to simply tap him on the shoulder when the whistle is blown to stop action or to end a period.
Against Upper St. Clair, the referee accidentally touched Weidner-Yetter and he stopped wrestling for a moment before realizing the mistake.
"Some referees are not used to it," Throckmorton said. "If (his opponent) doesn't go after him, he will take it to you."
Weidner-Yetter has the same goals all wrestlers have, and doesn't mind working hard to reach them.
"I want a good record," he said. "I want to do well in the sections and get to states."
That would be one trip Mechtel would love to make.