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VSDB athlete makes school history in sports, academics | newsleader.com | The News Leader
When it comes to both athletics and academics, Cyron Stokes has reached plateaus not achieved by any other student in the 171-year history of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.
In basketball, the deaf all-American holds the all-time school scoring record of 1,824 points. And academically, while being the top student in his class, he is the first athlete at the school ever enrolled in advanced placement calculus.
It is not surprising the Cardinals have selected him as their nominee for the City/County Student-Athlete of the Year Award, sponsored by The News Leader and Elliott Chevrolet.
Although he excels in basketball, Stokes doesn't limit his activities to that sport. He will graduate with four letters in basketball, but also three in soccer and two in track.
Naturally, basketball is his favorite.
"I grew up playing basketball," he said through an interpreter. "It's always fascinated me. It matches my skill sets."
On the court, Stokes was a scoring machine. Several times this year he had 40-plus point games, and ended with an average of over 24 per contest.
He began playing the sport on a recreation team while in the first grade, and when he came to VSDB as a freshman, he immediately joined the varsity squad.
Although he was a center, he could easily take over for a player at another position who was struggling.
"I knew I had the ability," he said. "I could do just about anything on the basketball court."
Stokes has been awarded for his accomplishments, being named to the Mason-Dixon all-tournament team in each of his four years, and this season he was selected as a deaf all-American. He also played for the deaf East all-star squad in a national game, which was played in Louisville.
"That's a really special memory," he said. "It was a lot of fun, and I played well. My heart jumps when I think about that."
He was also only one of four high school athletes selected to play in the World Deaf Championships to be competed in Poland this summer, but will not be able to participate because of lack of funding.
In soccer, Stokes has been an active offensive player, but took over as goalie this year when there was an injury. He used the fall sport to stay in shape for basketball.
"He's a good leader," said VSDB soccer coach Lindsay Burris. "He really supports younger team members. He tries to pull up their playing abilities.
"When he took over as goalie, his height was a strength. He covered the goal, but he was also a good offensive person."
In track, Stokes runs the 100 and 200 meters, as well as a leg on the 400-meter relay team.
"I like the 200 the best," he said. "The 100 is too short, and the 400 is too long."
In the classroom, Stokes is No. 1 in a senior class of 21, and holds down a 3.9 grade point average.
Besides AP calculus, he has taken a dual enrollment class in business at Blue Ridge Community College.
"It was different at Blue Ridge," he said. "But I enjoyed it, and it was a good experience."
Stokes said he has been influenced by his family and teachers to be a good student.
"They have encouraged me to use my talents," he said.
Although a star in basketball, Stokes is disciplined in his priorities.
"I think they have to be balanced," he said of his athletics and academics. "Skills on the court and in the classroom are the same. But school is more important than basketball.
"I wanted to prepare myself for college," he said. "I just couldn't ignore my school work. I had to be ready."
Stokes has been involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
He has been a representative to the student council, and has participated in drama club activities. He is also president of the Varsity Club.
Through his junior year, he worked at Wendy's, but conflicts with BRCC and an increased academic load forced him to give up that job.
Stokes has received a partial scholarship to Gallaudet University where he will play basketball and major in mathematics.
"As a deaf student, it is a better match for me," he said of his college selection.
He is also looking forward to playing his sport at the higher level.
"It will be at a very different skill level," his basketball coach Cliff Watson said through an interpreter. "But I have been impressed with his work ethic. He always hustles and gives 100 percent."
Although he loves basketball, Stokes, who has limited hearing, likes to listen to music vibrations when he is by himself. And it has caught on with other students.
"Other students couldn't hear the melody, but could hear the beat," he said. "They saw me do it, so they decided to do it on their own."
VSDB athletic director Wayne Hite thinks Stokes will be a success at the next level.
"He's always there to encourage others to be better," he said. "In my 10 years here, I rate him at the top of the list as a student-athlete."
When it comes to both athletics and academics, Cyron Stokes has reached plateaus not achieved by any other student in the 171-year history of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.
In basketball, the deaf all-American holds the all-time school scoring record of 1,824 points. And academically, while being the top student in his class, he is the first athlete at the school ever enrolled in advanced placement calculus.
It is not surprising the Cardinals have selected him as their nominee for the City/County Student-Athlete of the Year Award, sponsored by The News Leader and Elliott Chevrolet.
Although he excels in basketball, Stokes doesn't limit his activities to that sport. He will graduate with four letters in basketball, but also three in soccer and two in track.
Naturally, basketball is his favorite.
"I grew up playing basketball," he said through an interpreter. "It's always fascinated me. It matches my skill sets."
On the court, Stokes was a scoring machine. Several times this year he had 40-plus point games, and ended with an average of over 24 per contest.
He began playing the sport on a recreation team while in the first grade, and when he came to VSDB as a freshman, he immediately joined the varsity squad.
Although he was a center, he could easily take over for a player at another position who was struggling.
"I knew I had the ability," he said. "I could do just about anything on the basketball court."
Stokes has been awarded for his accomplishments, being named to the Mason-Dixon all-tournament team in each of his four years, and this season he was selected as a deaf all-American. He also played for the deaf East all-star squad in a national game, which was played in Louisville.
"That's a really special memory," he said. "It was a lot of fun, and I played well. My heart jumps when I think about that."
He was also only one of four high school athletes selected to play in the World Deaf Championships to be competed in Poland this summer, but will not be able to participate because of lack of funding.
In soccer, Stokes has been an active offensive player, but took over as goalie this year when there was an injury. He used the fall sport to stay in shape for basketball.
"He's a good leader," said VSDB soccer coach Lindsay Burris. "He really supports younger team members. He tries to pull up their playing abilities.
"When he took over as goalie, his height was a strength. He covered the goal, but he was also a good offensive person."
In track, Stokes runs the 100 and 200 meters, as well as a leg on the 400-meter relay team.
"I like the 200 the best," he said. "The 100 is too short, and the 400 is too long."
In the classroom, Stokes is No. 1 in a senior class of 21, and holds down a 3.9 grade point average.
Besides AP calculus, he has taken a dual enrollment class in business at Blue Ridge Community College.
"It was different at Blue Ridge," he said. "But I enjoyed it, and it was a good experience."
Stokes said he has been influenced by his family and teachers to be a good student.
"They have encouraged me to use my talents," he said.
Although a star in basketball, Stokes is disciplined in his priorities.
"I think they have to be balanced," he said of his athletics and academics. "Skills on the court and in the classroom are the same. But school is more important than basketball.
"I wanted to prepare myself for college," he said. "I just couldn't ignore my school work. I had to be ready."
Stokes has been involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
He has been a representative to the student council, and has participated in drama club activities. He is also president of the Varsity Club.
Through his junior year, he worked at Wendy's, but conflicts with BRCC and an increased academic load forced him to give up that job.
Stokes has received a partial scholarship to Gallaudet University where he will play basketball and major in mathematics.
"As a deaf student, it is a better match for me," he said of his college selection.
He is also looking forward to playing his sport at the higher level.
"It will be at a very different skill level," his basketball coach Cliff Watson said through an interpreter. "But I have been impressed with his work ethic. He always hustles and gives 100 percent."
Although he loves basketball, Stokes, who has limited hearing, likes to listen to music vibrations when he is by himself. And it has caught on with other students.
"Other students couldn't hear the melody, but could hear the beat," he said. "They saw me do it, so they decided to do it on their own."
VSDB athletic director Wayne Hite thinks Stokes will be a success at the next level.
"He's always there to encourage others to be better," he said. "In my 10 years here, I rate him at the top of the list as a student-athlete."