Utah Deaf Sports
Compiled & Written by Jodi B. Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2013
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2013
Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team - 1944
Athletic programs have been around at the Utah School for the Deaf (USD) since the early 1900s. Sports are an important part of the Utah Deaf community as well as the national Deaf community. Our local community has a significant history of athletic involvement. In fact, playing sports is beneficial for the development of physical, social and leadership skills. While playing sports, players have the opportunity to learn to interact with people, communicate and collaborate as a team. In addition, sports foster strategic thinking and problem solving. Most importantly, sports help in building confidence and winning a game gives the athletes a sense of accomplishment, further boosting their confidence.
Starting in 1958, Jerry Taylor, a Gallaudet alumni and long-time Athletic Director successfully directed the athletic programs at USD. Despite the athletic programs at USD being cancelled in 1989 due to mainstreaming efforts by Dr. Grant B. Bitter, an ardent advocate for oral and mainstream education for Deaf and hard of hearing students, this did not stop the Deaf community, especially former USD mainstreamed students, from participating in Deaf sports beyond school. Many Utah Deaf people joined local sport organizations such as the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf and Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf. John "Jack" F. White, a USD alumni of 1932 and well-known sport enthusiast, had been active in Utah sports for more than 40 years.
Starting in 1958, Jerry Taylor, a Gallaudet alumni and long-time Athletic Director successfully directed the athletic programs at USD. Despite the athletic programs at USD being cancelled in 1989 due to mainstreaming efforts by Dr. Grant B. Bitter, an ardent advocate for oral and mainstream education for Deaf and hard of hearing students, this did not stop the Deaf community, especially former USD mainstreamed students, from participating in Deaf sports beyond school. Many Utah Deaf people joined local sport organizations such as the Utah Athletic Club of the Deaf and Golden Spike Athletic Club of the Deaf. John "Jack" F. White, a USD alumni of 1932 and well-known sport enthusiast, had been active in Utah sports for more than 40 years.
John (Jack) F. White
Additionally, members of the Utah Deaf community joined regional and national sport organizations to compete with other teams. They are: Far West Athletic Association of the Deaf, and Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf, American Athletic Association of the Deaf, and the USA Deaf Sports Federation.
Sports is not limited to basketball and volleyball – athletes often go out for skiing and snowboarding, speedskating, wrestling, tennis, track and field, swimming and other sports. These sports are available with the national sports organizations under USA Deaf Sports Federation.
Soon after Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) merged with Utah School for the Deaf in 2005, the athletics program returned pursued by Julio Diaz (husband of JMS co-founder, Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz and father of three deaf children) under the administration of Linda Rutledge, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind superintendent. It was a dream come true for the Deaf community! In spite of funding challenges, USD and JMS students have participated in athletic programs since then.
Sports is not limited to basketball and volleyball – athletes often go out for skiing and snowboarding, speedskating, wrestling, tennis, track and field, swimming and other sports. These sports are available with the national sports organizations under USA Deaf Sports Federation.
Soon after Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) merged with Utah School for the Deaf in 2005, the athletics program returned pursued by Julio Diaz (husband of JMS co-founder, Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz and father of three deaf children) under the administration of Linda Rutledge, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind superintendent. It was a dream come true for the Deaf community! In spite of funding challenges, USD and JMS students have participated in athletic programs since then.
Utah Deaf Sports Organizations
Basketball Team at the Utah School for the Deaf, 1907
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Utah Deaf Athletes
Marvin Marshall
Connie Johnston
Jeff W. Pollock
Jacob Buzianis
Michael W. Hubbs
Connie Johnston
Jeff W. Pollock
Jacob Buzianis
Michael W. Hubbs