By C.J. Vetter
KYLE – Overcoming adversity is a daily fact of life for the deaf community. But for a local athlete, he is embracing the challenge.
Jeffery Courtney, a local deaf athlete, is set to attend the 2022 Deaflympics, an international competition for the deaf community, covering numerous different sports with teams from around the globe. Courtney is a recognized member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and holds a medal of courage for his achievements. He has soared in numerous tournaments and is a two-time state champion. Courtney comes from a long line of wrestlers and has been wrestling since the age of three.
“My father, Donald Milton Courtney, started this tradition back in the ’60s in Fairmont, West Virginia. He won the 1970 state championship, then my oldest brother, Christopher Donald Courtney, won his state championship in 1993,” Courtney said. “Then my second oldest brother, Ryan Scott Courtney, was a two-time state champion in 1996 and 1997. Then, I am the baby of my family, and I’m a two-time state champion in 2001 and 2002.”
Prior to his retirement, Jeffery was a head coach for the Texas School For The Deaf’s wrestling program, as well as a residential dormitory counselor at Michigan School For The Deaf, where he organized that school’s wrestling program as well. One of the main reasons Courtney is coming out of retirement is to help get children in the deaf community passionate about sports and motivate them to be more outgoing.
“I would like to see deaf youth involved in something that they love,” Courtney said. “Currently I have two beautiful deaf girls and I don’t want to see them fall into the same pattern as today, where they only want to play together for socializing. I would like to see them grow their love into sports. So, I decided to get out of my retirement and go to the Deaflympics to show them what it looks like.“
Jeffery left on April 23 for West Virginia where he will train in his family’s gym before flying out to Miami and then Brazil. He expects to reach Brazil by May 4, and he will compete from May 10 to May 14. He will be joining nine other deaf athletes to form the U.S. team. However, Courtney’s wife and children will not be in attendance. Holly Courtney has been married to Jeffery for nearly 15 years and will be honoring their anniversary while Jeffery is in Brazil.
“He will be in Brazil on our anniversary, which is on the 12th, but that is ok. That’s a huge honor for him to attend the Deaflympics and represent our country and the deaf community,” Holly said. “He has a goal and he likes to go big and go for it.“
Holly points to the recent attention that the deaf community has gotten from activists like Nyle DiMarco, the 2015 winner of America’s Next Top Model, and the 2021 film CODA, which covers the difficulties of deaf parents raising a hearing child, as signs that the deaf community is becoming recognized.
“You know the Olympics itself is a huge deal right and the athletes are mostly sponsored for,” Holly said. “So with the Deaflympics, we are not recognized as much as them. But I believe that is going to change one day.“
Currently, Jeffery is seeking to raise money to cover the costs for their wrestling gear and other clothing items, such as team singlets, wrestling shoes, hoodies, joggers and gear packs. Those who donate to the cause will be featured on the team’s social media page. Donations are also qualified tax exemptions, and the receipts can be provided upon request. The goal is to raise $4,000 before the end of the games.
When asked about what he likes most about Kyle, he stated that he found its welcoming and friendly people make him feel like he is at home.
“I would say the people in Kyle are the most friendly in the state! I don’t feel like an outcast from them,” Jeffery said. “For example, the pie company is one of my favorites to stop by and pick a pie up from. They don’t need a piece of paper and pen to communicate because they are good at body language or gestures. In my opinion, they are the best pie I ever had!”
For more information, or to learn about events in the Deaflympics you can visit www.usdeafsports.org. If you wish to contact Jeffery about possible donations, you can email him at [email protected].
