Deaflympian Families - Part One
NOTE: When A paid article reaches the third month, it becomes accessible for you. The below was dated on August 16, 2023
Wetzel Father-Daughter Deaflympians
In the 2022 Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, HANNAH Wetzel took a Bronze in the Women's Long Jump event and participated in the other two events: High Jump and Triple Jump. (Recently, Gallaudet University's Hannah was named the Women's Top Performer of the 2023 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.)
Hannah's father, DARYL (pictured), is a three-time Deaflympian - winning two Gold Medals in Men's Basketball in 1985 and 1993 and capturing a Bronze medal in Men's Handball in 1989.
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Different Wetzel Father-Daughter Deaflympians - (No relation)
MARSHA Wetzel and her USA Women’s Basketball team trained hard at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, then captured Gold medals in Women’s Basketball in the 1985 Games in Los Angeles. Four years later, in 1989, she took a second gold medal in the same sport. (In 2003, Marsha became the first Deaf Referee in the NCAA Division I women's basketball history.)
Marsha's father, DONALD, was a four-sport Deaflympian in the 1953 Games - taking a Bronze in Men's Basketball while competing in Athletics, Swimming, and Tennis.
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Four Barron Deaflympian Siblings
LUANNE Barron was a volleyball player in four Deaflympics - winning two Gold Medals in 1985 and 1993 and two Silvers in 1981 and 1989. (Currently, she is the Superintendent of the Kansas School for the Deaf.)
STACIA Barron helped her women’s basketball team win the Gold Medal in the 1985 Games in Los Angeles and threw javelin in the 1981 Games.
JACK Barron, Jr. surprised the Deaf communities by winning the Gold in one of the most challenging wrestling freestyle events - 52-57 KG, in 1981.
BARRY Barron participated in the 1997 Games as a wrestler.
The Los Angeles Times’ 1985 article tells you that their parents sold a mobile home, so they went to watch their children participate in the 1981 Games in Germany.
[NOTE: There are two more Barron Deaflympians: Jack’s wife, CHEVELLE, competed in four athletics events in the 1997 Games, and Barry’s son, NICHOLAS, participated in the sport of wrestling in the 2022 Games.]
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Johnson Deaflympian Family
RONALD Johnson was a member of the USA Deaf Men’s Basketball team, winning Golds in 1969 and 1973.
Ronald’s wife, SHIRLEY Hottle, decorated her medals in their home - 3 Golds, one Silver, and 3 Bronzes from the swimming events in 1969 and 1973.
Ronald’s son, ROBIN, brought a Gold Medal home after helping his men’s basketball win in the 1997 Games.
Ronald’s daughter, RONDA, had two Gold ones from playing in the women’s basketball events in 2001 and 2005.
Ronald’s daughter, SHANADA, hung her Silver Medal on a wall after playing women’s volleyball in 2001.
Again, Ronald’s sister, NANCY, ran the women’s 400-meter race in the 1969 Games.
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Kovacs Deaflympian Relatives
ANTHONY Kovacs played football (soccer) in 1965 and bowled in 1977.
Anthony’s daughter, MARIKA, played basketball for her USA Women’s Teams in 1989 and 1993 and brought two Golds home.
Anthony’s niece, DYAN, is a three-time Deaflympian in volleyball - Bronze in 1997, Silver in 2001, and Bronze in 2005.
Anthony’s nephew, TYRON, is a four-time Deaflympian in team handball - Bronze in 1997, Bronze in 2001, Silver in 2005, and no medal in 2013.
Anthony’s nephew, KEVIN, teamed with Tyron to play team handball in 2001 and got a Bronze.
Anthony’s great-nephew and Kevin’s son, ESTEBAN, entered the 57th year of the Kovacs reign by playing tennis in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil.
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Bachtel Deaflympian Family
THOMAS Bachtel is a four-time Deaflympian: Two silver medals in the 3000-meter steeplechase event in 1977 and 1981, a Silver in the marathon in 1985, and a Bronze in that event in 1989.
Thomas’ sister, BETSY, took two Golds, one Silver, and two Bronzes in the running events in the three Deaflympics: 1977, 1981, and 1985.
Thomas’ wife, MARY, ran in the long-distance events in the 1989 Games.
Thomas’ daughter, AMY, played a different sport - basketball - and won a gold medal in the 2013 Women’s Basketball.
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Two-Family Deaflympians
On May 22, Deaf mountaineers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger became the first Deaf American male and the first Deaf woman in the world to summit Mount Everest!
On the ground, SCOTT represented the USA team in team handball at the 2013 Sofia Deaflympics.
Scott’s sister, SHANA, is a four-time Deaflympian in three different sports: Athletics in 2001 and 2005, Volleyball in 2009, and Beach Volleyball in 2013. She hung two Silvers and a Bronze on the wall.
Scott’s father, RAYMOND, played volleyball in three Deaflympics in 1977, 1981, and 1985.
Scott’s girlfriend is Shayna Unger, whose father, ANDREW, teamed with Raymond in playing volleyball in the 1981 Games.
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Grandfather-Grandson Herzig Deaflympians
BRUCE Herzig was a swimmer in the 1965 Games in Washington, DC.
Bruce’s wife, ELAINE, bowled in the 2009 Games.
Bruce’s grandson, GARETT Ashton, was a sprinter in two Deaflympics in 2017 and 2002 and brought home a Bronze medal.
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Uncle-Nephew Pederson Deaflympians
KENNETH Pederson took a Silver medal in the long jump in the 1965 Games and took three medals in all three running events in 1969: Silver in the 4x100 relay, Silver in the 4x400 relay, and Bronze in the 400 meters.
Ken’s nephew, RODNEY, helped his USA men’s basketball team win in the 1989 Games in New Zealand.
Ken’s nephew, AMERICO, brought a Gold medal after playing basketball in the 1993 Games in Bulgaria.
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Players/Coaches Boren Deaflympians
GARLAND Boren participated in Men’s volleyball in 1973.
Garland’s son, LYNN, is a six-time Deaflympian - three in playing in Team Handball (1993, 1997-Bronze, and 2001-Bronze) and three in coaching the U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team (2013, 2017-Bronze, and 2022.)
Garland’s daughter-in-law and Lynn’s wife, TOURIA Quahid, played basketball in the Women’s event in four Deaflympics: 1993, 1997-Silver, 2001-Silver, and 2005-Silver. Also, she was the Head Coach of the USA Women’s basketball team, which won the Gold medal in the 2022 Games.
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BERRIGAN Family Deaflympians
PATRICK Berrigan competed in the long jump event in 1969 and 1973.
Patrick’s son, TONY, is a 3-time Deaflympian jumper: Silver in the high jump in the 1997 Games, Bronze in the same event in 2001, and 4th place in 2005.
Patrick’s daughter, JENNIFER, snowboarded in the 2015 Winter Deaflympics.
Patrick’s brother, TERENCE “Terry,” was another jumper in 1973.
Patrick’s nephew and Terry’s son, KEVIN, played Team Handball in 2013.
Patrick’s niece and Terry’s daughter, KRYSTLE, is a three-time Deaflympian: Athletics (LJ & TJ) in 2001, Women’s Volleyball (Bronze) in 2005, and Women’s Volleyball (Silver) in 2009.
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Three-Generation Valencia Deaflympians
MANUEL Valencia ran the hurdle event in the 1961 Games.
Manuel’s son, JEREMIAS, brought a Gold medal home twice after playing basketball in the 2001 and 2005 Games.
Manuel’s son, JAMIE, teamed with Jeremias to play basketball in 2001.
Manuel’s son, JONATHAN, teamed with Jeremias in playing basketball in 2005.
Manuel’s grandson and Jeremias’ son, NOAH, took a Silver medal after playing Men’s Basketball in the 2022 Games.
Manuel’s grandson and Jeremias’ son, JORY, teamed with Noah in that sport in 2022.
Again, Manuel’s son-in-law, STEVE Valencia-Biskupiak, competed in Team Handball (Silver) in the 2005 Games and then joined Noah and Jory in playing basketball (Silver) in the 2022 Games.
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Scientific Fact: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, “50% to 60% of hearing loss in babies is due to genetic causes.