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Rio Mesa student competes on court despite being deaf | www.thecamarilloacorn.com | Camarillo Acorn
After weeks of summer practice, Anthony Montoya was excited to learn he’d made Rio Mesa High School’s boys’ varsity basketball team. But practicing his three-pointers isn’t Montoya’s only challenge—the senior is partially deaf and needs an interpreter at game time.
“My love of the game is motivating me to continue,” said the 17-year-old. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
An Oxnard resident, Montoya started playing basketball with students from Oxnard High School at a park by his house last summer. As a freshman, Montoya played on the Rio Mesa baseball team but was eventually cut from the squad. He decided it was time to give sports another shot.
Although Montoya’s basketball coach, Chris Ruffinelli, has nearly two decades of experience as a high school coach, Ruffinelli said he’s never had a deaf basketball player on his team. The longtime coach said it’s a learning process for him, the other players and Montoya.
“It’s what high school athletics are supposed to be about,” said Ruffinelli, a Ventura resident. “If I can make his day, then it’s worth it.”
Montoya can hear when he talks one-on-one with someone but can’t pick out specific voices when he’s in a noisy gym.
“Everything sounds cluttered,” Montoya said.
His interpreter, Linda Torres, works with Montoya and Ruffinelli to create signs for plays and for basketball jargon. She interprets everything word for word during team meetings, practices and huddles but has to use “short and sweet” signs when Montoya is in the game and must make sure she doesn’t sign when someone is about to throw him the ball.
“The sport is more exciting than the classroom,” said Torres, an Oxnard resident. “It’s very cool because you don’t get highfives in the classroom.”
Torres has been working with deaf students at Rio Mesa high school for more than 30 years and has been going to the basketball games just as long.
She’s known Montoya since he was a freshman and said it’s great that Montoya has the opportunity to be part of the team.
Since making the team, both Torres and Montoya’s mom, Anna, have seen a dramatic change in the teen’s outlook on school and on life in general.
“It’s like night and day,” Anna said. “His whole demeanor has changed. He’s gained a lot of confidence and is accepting of who he is. He has a lot of passion for it.”
Torres interprets for Montoya during class and said he’s more focused off the court as well. Athletes have to maintain a 2.0 grade point average in order to participate in school sports so, she said, Montoya is studying more to make sure his grades don’t slip.
Montoya said he’s been practicing his shooting skills every day and is learning the team’s set plays. The week he made the team, he even practiced in the rain Saturday and Sunday morning. With Kobe Bryant as a role model, he said he’s excited to go to all the games and watch the team compete.
“He has a willingness to learn and to hustle and has a positive attitude,” Torres said. “He gives 110 percent at every practice and every game.”
Ruffinelli said Montoya has already improved in the few weeks he’s been with the team, and the other players have completely accepted him as a teammate. The coach said the main challenge is making sure small details are being communicated correctly among coach, player and interpreter.
“It’s an eye-opening experience because sometimes we take for granted being able to communicate something simple,” Ruffinelli said. “Unfortunately, there are those kids with handicaps who are apprehensive about coming out. That’s where I respect Anthony so much for being brave and willing to take that initiative.”
Torres said being on the basketball team has expanded Montoya’s world. The deaf community at the high school is very small—only 15 students, who’ve been in the same classes with each other since elementary school. He serves as a role model for other deaf students to take risks and get involved with the school.
“Anytime we talk about basketball he always has a smile on his face,” Torres said. “I see him growing as a person because he knows that he can accomplish whatever he sets his mind to and now other deaf students know that too.”
After weeks of summer practice, Anthony Montoya was excited to learn he’d made Rio Mesa High School’s boys’ varsity basketball team. But practicing his three-pointers isn’t Montoya’s only challenge—the senior is partially deaf and needs an interpreter at game time.
“My love of the game is motivating me to continue,” said the 17-year-old. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
An Oxnard resident, Montoya started playing basketball with students from Oxnard High School at a park by his house last summer. As a freshman, Montoya played on the Rio Mesa baseball team but was eventually cut from the squad. He decided it was time to give sports another shot.
Although Montoya’s basketball coach, Chris Ruffinelli, has nearly two decades of experience as a high school coach, Ruffinelli said he’s never had a deaf basketball player on his team. The longtime coach said it’s a learning process for him, the other players and Montoya.
“It’s what high school athletics are supposed to be about,” said Ruffinelli, a Ventura resident. “If I can make his day, then it’s worth it.”
Montoya can hear when he talks one-on-one with someone but can’t pick out specific voices when he’s in a noisy gym.
“Everything sounds cluttered,” Montoya said.
His interpreter, Linda Torres, works with Montoya and Ruffinelli to create signs for plays and for basketball jargon. She interprets everything word for word during team meetings, practices and huddles but has to use “short and sweet” signs when Montoya is in the game and must make sure she doesn’t sign when someone is about to throw him the ball.
“The sport is more exciting than the classroom,” said Torres, an Oxnard resident. “It’s very cool because you don’t get highfives in the classroom.”
Torres has been working with deaf students at Rio Mesa high school for more than 30 years and has been going to the basketball games just as long.
She’s known Montoya since he was a freshman and said it’s great that Montoya has the opportunity to be part of the team.
Since making the team, both Torres and Montoya’s mom, Anna, have seen a dramatic change in the teen’s outlook on school and on life in general.
“It’s like night and day,” Anna said. “His whole demeanor has changed. He’s gained a lot of confidence and is accepting of who he is. He has a lot of passion for it.”
Torres interprets for Montoya during class and said he’s more focused off the court as well. Athletes have to maintain a 2.0 grade point average in order to participate in school sports so, she said, Montoya is studying more to make sure his grades don’t slip.
Montoya said he’s been practicing his shooting skills every day and is learning the team’s set plays. The week he made the team, he even practiced in the rain Saturday and Sunday morning. With Kobe Bryant as a role model, he said he’s excited to go to all the games and watch the team compete.
“He has a willingness to learn and to hustle and has a positive attitude,” Torres said. “He gives 110 percent at every practice and every game.”
Ruffinelli said Montoya has already improved in the few weeks he’s been with the team, and the other players have completely accepted him as a teammate. The coach said the main challenge is making sure small details are being communicated correctly among coach, player and interpreter.
“It’s an eye-opening experience because sometimes we take for granted being able to communicate something simple,” Ruffinelli said. “Unfortunately, there are those kids with handicaps who are apprehensive about coming out. That’s where I respect Anthony so much for being brave and willing to take that initiative.”
Torres said being on the basketball team has expanded Montoya’s world. The deaf community at the high school is very small—only 15 students, who’ve been in the same classes with each other since elementary school. He serves as a role model for other deaf students to take risks and get involved with the school.
“Anytime we talk about basketball he always has a smile on his face,” Torres said. “I see him growing as a person because he knows that he can accomplish whatever he sets his mind to and now other deaf students know that too.”