World Around You--November/December 1997--Sports. Gallaudet University

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R - 1 9 9 7


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

Gymnast Moving on Up

Denay Tapia, a student at the New Mexico School for the Deaf in Santa Fe, and the only deaf member of a town's gymnastic team, placed fifth in her big meet last spring. Denay, a member of the team at the Zia Gymnastics Academy, competed in the balance beam, floor events, uneven bars, and vault. [photo of Denay in a gymnastics pose]
"I love gymnastics," said Denay. "I want to be like Dominique Moceanu."
Moceanu is a famous Olympian.
Denay has taken gymnastics for two years. A serious student of the sport, she attended a gymnastics camp in Bakersfield, CA last summer. Sometimes Denay uses an interpreter at practice. Other times, she picks up tips and tricks by lipreading, gesturing, and observing how other gymnasts handle their routines.
Presently at the compulsory level, she is hoping to move up soon to the prep level. The prep level, the next step on the gymnastics competitive ladder, means opportunities to compete against better gymnasts.

"Tiger" in the Crowd
Kevin Hall, a sophomore at St. Rita School for the Deaf, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been mentioned in Sports Illustrated, the national sports magazine, for his outstanding performance in golf. Kevin was in the "Faces in the Crowd" section where outstanding athletes around the country are highlighted. [clipping from Sports Illustrated showing
Kevin's photo and his accomplishment]

Kevin has played competitive golf for many years. He won and finished in top positions in many golfing tournaments. He is ranked #2 golfer on the Winston Wood high school team. His latest accomplishment was a first place win at the Fort Wayne PGA Golf championship.
Kevin excels in other sports too. He is an outstanding bowler, sporting a 191 scratch average, and has been rated the number one prep bowler in the state.
[photo of Kevin]
He is also an honor student who takes part in drama and works on the school newspaper. "Kevin is truly an inspiration to adults and kids everywhere," said Jodi Weiser public relations coordinator at St. Rita's.

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