World Around You--May/June 1997--Sports. Gallaudet University

M A Y / J U N E - 1 9 9 7


b y B a r r y S t r a s s l e r

Best of Luck
Basketball star Michael Torres, skier Jenny Locy, and swimmers Zeb Jenkins and Brett Stauffer,are among the top athletes who will represent the United States at the summer World Games for the Deaf. The international competition of the top deaf athletes in the world is often called "the Deaf Olympics."

World Around You wishes best of luck to all Americans who are getting ready to compete in the World Games for the Deaf. The 18th World Games will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark in July. Good luck!

Chalom-Gates International Skaters

Eva Chalom and her hearing partner Matthew Gates competed in the World Figure Skating Championships. Ranked 2nd in the USA, Chalom-Gates danced their way on skates to place 18th in the ice dance event. The World Figure Skating Championships were held last March, in Switzerland.

Kenny Walker, Now A Coach

Kenny Walker, former Denver Bronco football player, has signed on with the Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD). Walker is ISD's residential counselor and--what else? assistant football coach.
The 6'4" 290 pound former Bronco has already made his mark. At last year's student/staff basketball game, Walker helped the staff to a slight win--and shattered the glass basketball backboard with a high-powered dunk. With glass tumbling downward, Walker spread out his arms to protect the the students playing beneath him, according to ISD Director of Student Life John Cool. "Walker is a decent hardworking person," said Cool. "He's always there for the kids--all kids."
And the basketball backboard? Superintendent Bill Johnson is sportsminded enough to know this occassionally happens--and see the humor in the new hire who seems to be a star inside--and outside-the sports arena.

Alabama School for the Deaf A Dream Team
Alabama School for the Deaf almost always won its basketball games. Both boys and girls had several winning seasons--and then got eliminated in the playoffs.
This season was different. Under coach Don Hackney, the boys won 32 and lost only 2 games. Wins included important championships--the Mason Dixon Schools for the Deaf Tournament, the area championship, the sub-regional championship, and the Northeast regional championship.
Before they realized it, boys' team found itself competing among the final four teams battling for the state class 1A championship. It was a first in Alabama's history.
Unfortunately the dream ended in the semi finals. A crowd of 7,500 fans watched as Loachapoka, the state's number 1 ranked team proved too strong for the Alabama team, winning 56-40. The team played with heart, rather than height--the tallest ASD player was 6'3" compared to the average 6'4" and 6'7" of the Loachapoka players.
Still Alabama racked up the most wins of any deaf school in history. Three players—Terry Crumpton, Robert McKinnon, and Henry Dorsey were described by coach Hackney as the best in the nation. The girls team did well, too. The girls posted a 29-3 record—another record high for wins in a season by a girls' deaf high school team. And they did it despite losing two key players to injuries.
Coach Kay Hill led the girls to the Mason-Dixon Schools for the Deaf tournament, the subregional championship. They finished one win away from the Northeast regional. Outstanding players were Kim Loggins and Shanta Charles. Congratulations to coaches and players!

The ASD basketball teams

General comments may be sent to: ISCS.ClercCenter@gallaudet.edu