Miss-Delectable
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Burbank Leader
Deaf and hearing impaired athletes and cheerleaders enjoy competition of tourney at Burbank.
It's the kind of experience high school athletes around the nation thrive on — the excitement of playing in a sporting event before a packed arena of peers, complete with cheerleaders and the smell of food wafting from the snack bar.
Hearing-impaired athletes have a proud tradition of competing and making valuable contributions to the social ritual that is high school sports.
For the most part, this significant segment of the student body hasn't had many events to call its own.
The annual Southern California Deaf and Hard of Hearing Basketball and Cheerleading Tournament is designed to fill that niche by providing those athletes with a memorable day of community and competition.
The 27th installment of the event Saturday at Burbank High, did just that for nine basketball teams and four cheerleading squads from high schools from Alhambra to Nevada, along with hundreds of their cheering friends and family.
"It makes me feel happy to see all the different deaf people from the community meeting each other and enjoying themselves," said Johnny Zendejas, a Burbank senior who is a member of the Bulldogs' basketball team, through an interpreter. "The competition with the other schools and the players is what I enjoy."
Zendejas, who plays varsity football and volleyball at Burbank, has been playing basketball in the tournament for three years. Burbank fielded its first team in the event in 2005.
It is a commitment that requires hours of year-round practice, from both the basketball players and cheerleaders, all in preparation for one day.
By the same token, an exhaustive volunteer force culled from the school and the community worked tirelessly to fund and staff the event and coach the respective teams.
From the point that Burbank was tabbed as the host school of the 2007 event nearly a year ago, preparing for Saturday has been a labor of love for Dena Zelig, a deaf and hard of hearing teacher at Burbank and co-organizer Michele Betton, who also teaches in the program at the school.
"Everyone has been incredible all year round for this one-day tournament, that is really for the fulfillment of the students," said Zelig, who also assists in communication between players and coaches from the sideline during the tournament. "The deaf community really is a huge network and it really is a culture.
"For them to be able to come together and play together with deaf peers is one of the most incredible things."
Burbank's deaf and hard of hearing cheer squad took second-place, as did the defending tournament-champion basketball team, after falling in overtime in the championship game.
For seniors such as Zendejas, competing in the event for the last time, the memories are sure to outlast the trophies.
Deaf and hearing impaired athletes and cheerleaders enjoy competition of tourney at Burbank.
It's the kind of experience high school athletes around the nation thrive on — the excitement of playing in a sporting event before a packed arena of peers, complete with cheerleaders and the smell of food wafting from the snack bar.
Hearing-impaired athletes have a proud tradition of competing and making valuable contributions to the social ritual that is high school sports.
For the most part, this significant segment of the student body hasn't had many events to call its own.
The annual Southern California Deaf and Hard of Hearing Basketball and Cheerleading Tournament is designed to fill that niche by providing those athletes with a memorable day of community and competition.
The 27th installment of the event Saturday at Burbank High, did just that for nine basketball teams and four cheerleading squads from high schools from Alhambra to Nevada, along with hundreds of their cheering friends and family.
"It makes me feel happy to see all the different deaf people from the community meeting each other and enjoying themselves," said Johnny Zendejas, a Burbank senior who is a member of the Bulldogs' basketball team, through an interpreter. "The competition with the other schools and the players is what I enjoy."
Zendejas, who plays varsity football and volleyball at Burbank, has been playing basketball in the tournament for three years. Burbank fielded its first team in the event in 2005.
It is a commitment that requires hours of year-round practice, from both the basketball players and cheerleaders, all in preparation for one day.
By the same token, an exhaustive volunteer force culled from the school and the community worked tirelessly to fund and staff the event and coach the respective teams.
From the point that Burbank was tabbed as the host school of the 2007 event nearly a year ago, preparing for Saturday has been a labor of love for Dena Zelig, a deaf and hard of hearing teacher at Burbank and co-organizer Michele Betton, who also teaches in the program at the school.
"Everyone has been incredible all year round for this one-day tournament, that is really for the fulfillment of the students," said Zelig, who also assists in communication between players and coaches from the sideline during the tournament. "The deaf community really is a huge network and it really is a culture.
"For them to be able to come together and play together with deaf peers is one of the most incredible things."
Burbank's deaf and hard of hearing cheer squad took second-place, as did the defending tournament-champion basketball team, after falling in overtime in the championship game.
For seniors such as Zendejas, competing in the event for the last time, the memories are sure to outlast the trophies.