Updated Feb 18, 2020; Posted Feb 18, 2020 . Caiden was diagnosed with eye cancer at 19 months old, leaving him blind. Lewis Center, Ohio — Caiden Hooks is making history this weekend on behalf of Olentangy Berlin High School in a state wrestling tournament. Between eighth grade and his freshman year, Ferraro and the St. John Vianney wrestling team went to a camp at Penn State. Hooks continues to excel despite his visual limitations. "I used to try to fool myself that I wasn't blind," Anthony says. Ferraro's being recruited to wrestle at a number of colleges, including Division I Rider and D-III The College of New Jersey, which has a commitment to providing accommodations for students with special needs. Click here to find out more about our partners. I get that part of it, but the last thing I want is sympathy. If they break contact, the official stops the match and restarts it at the center. ", During Anthony's freshman year at St. John Vianney, students in Christian Service class delivered Braille materials to each of his classrooms throughout the day. I was denied to a school I was never able to go to. Crossposted by. Caiden Hooks is a blind and autistic high school wrestler who is dominating the competition on the wrestling mat. Blind High School Wrestler Defies All Odds, Wins State Champion Title. Ferraro's is one of those stories. I thought I was just supposed to do what everybody else does. Sometimes people will come up to him and say, "It's amazing that you're blind and you do this. But, as he says, “I happen to be a blind wrestler.” Friday, January 8, 2016 RALEIGH, NC (KTRK) -- Liana Mutia is legally blind and also pursuing a new-found passion for wrestling at her North Carolina high school. The lifestyle you develop from wrestling, the training and discipline, will help out in the real world. ", What's Ferraro's key to success? "I look at it from a life standpoint. u/paulfromatlanta. I saw that! He's an accomplished guitarist. But one thing that makes Spencer stand out from the other wrestlers on his team is that he is legally blind. "It's taken a village to get Anthony to this point," says Smith, who also teaches theology at St. John Vianney. 126: Nolan Gessler (Graham Local) dec. Alijah Stevens (Licking Valley) 13-8 ", He transferred to a public school in seventh grade and began wrestling, with modest goals. Wherever they went, Smith asked Anthony to hold his arm. He found he liked the discipline and the work, the idea of pushing himself past comfort. Sure thing. 7h Dave … "I was getting pinned every match." MAIL. 5-3. LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Caiden Hooks is making history this weekend as he represents Olentangy Berlin High School at the state wrestling tournament. Smith backed off and Ferraro walked groin-first into a railing in the center of the staircase. One day they were approaching a staircase, and Ferraro refused help. Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft is the school Anthony is referring to. ", "Wait," he'll say. Hooks, a 160-pound junior at Olentangy Berlin High School, was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma when he was just 19-months-old. Two high school wrestlers -- one blind, one with no legs -- discover the meaning of true friendship. High School Sports; Blind wrestler has scored few wins but many triumphs for Bay City Western. Wrestling has helped me develop a life. Spencer has been blind since he was a child, when he was diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis 10 at the early age of 3. DELAWARE COUNTY, Ohio -- 160-pound junior Caiden Hooks is not your typical high school wrestler. Share on Facebook. ", That included playing pee-wee basketball and soccer with sighted kids. Later, he was able to take a van back and forth -- two hours each way. We're always looking for stories that transcend sports. "People tell me I inspire them, and when someone tells you that, it's the best feeling in the world," Ferraro says. The point he would like to make is both blunt and honest: He doesn't know any different, so none of this is a big deal to him. "I'd come home and sit in front of the TV and eat junk food. "I'd hide my cane and scream 'I'm not blind!' 12. Once upon a time he played basketball and soccer. HOME. "Yes, that's true, but he's an inspiration to everybody. and generally freak out about it. But as he puts it, “I’m a wrestler who just so happens to be blind.”. Before he turned four, both of his eyes had been removed. His goal was top three, which means a trip to the state meet, but a 3-2 loss in the third-place match Saturday -- after two triple-OT matches in two days -- ended his career. "If I get the layout of a place, within two or three times I have it memorized. © Provided by WSYX – … "But fourth or first, he's our champ.". Hey, it's high school, and as Smith says, "Ant dishes it out more than he takes it." What You Need To Know. "Hopefully some good will come out of it," he says, not sounding entirely convinced. Jay Spencer is legally blind, but it hasn’t stopped him from wrestling — or bringing home the first state wrestling title in the school’s history. As Tom Rinaldi writes, Dartanyon Crockett and Leroy Sutton are two very special young men. On the ground, moaning, Ferraro laughed and yelled, "I saw that! You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. "I wanted to get a point," he says. Part of the process: Sixers clinch East's top seed, Sources: Broncos lose Hamilton to off-site injury, Kelenic brings M's fans to feet with 1st MLB HR, Rep for women reached out to Watson's lawyers, Ionescu, 'ready for moment,' nails winner for NY, Wilbon, Breen among honorees for Gowdy Award, LaFleur wants Rodgers back 'in the worst way', Agony of the feet: Toney cleatless in NYG debut. "If I do inspire people, that's the best thing I could ever hear. Smith called ahead to make sure his team's rooms were on the first floor. This blind cancer survivor is winning on and off the wrestling mat. Ferraro was wrestling to be the first blind state-meet qualifier since 1984. Legally Blind Nick Germano Ends Inspiring High School Career As Newsday Wrestler of the Year matthewrossant March 6, 2021 Nick Germano is working on the point of the double play, when the throw from third base plunges towards him, second base only … He has four brothers and sisters and 55 cousins in the immediate area, so he just went about doing what everyone else did. by SafeHomeDIY March 12, 2021 138. We want someone to show us that what happens in an athletic endeavor can jump off the court or the mat to stand for something bigger, something that rises above cynicism and commerce. ", Sometimes his friends will move desks around in a classroom or set up an obstacle that doesn't conform to Anthony's mental schematic. Feb 26, 2019 by apost team. ... We had a blind coach in high school and it gave all of us a different perspective on not just overcoming adversity in athletics but life as well. NBA insiders: What are the odds the Lakers and Celtics make it out of the play-in? Now, he's competing in the state wrestling tournament. Legally blind High School wrestler wins the Alabama state championship. "He spilled his guts, and he was crushed," says Pat Smith, Ferraro's coach at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel. He refuses to use a cane except at night; he navigates the hallways and classrooms of St. John Vianney by memory. Fierce independence, for one thing. 8y Tim Keown. Sports High School Wrestling Nick Germano, who is legally blind, ends an inspiring high school career as Newsday's Wrestler of the Year Nick Germano with his … He felt a responsibility to do the best he could. UFC 262 viewers guide: Who will succeed Khabib as king of the lightweights? Author of five books (3 NYT best-sellers). As long as … NEWS. Blind Olentangy Berlin High School wrestler to compete in state tournament Caiden Hooks had both of his eyes removed when he was four years old after a … Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. February 18, 2019, 8:02 a.m. Jay Spencer is legally blind, but it hasn’t stopped him from wrestling — or bringing home the first state wrestling title in the school’s history. I used wrestling as an outlet to grow and learn things about myself,” Ferraro said. Los Angeles Lakers. Blind, autistic wrestler prepares for state meet A blind, autistic high school wrestler is set to go up against the top-ranked wrestler in the nation Saturday at the Ohio state wrestling tournament. He surfs and rides a skateboard. Caiden Hooks will wrestle Saturday against one of the state’s top opponents at 160-pounds in the Division I State Tournament. Anthony Ferraro has a lot of ability for a guy with a disability. Blind Wrestler with Autism Battles His Way to High School State Tournament. Caiden Hooks had both of his eyes removed when he was four years old after a battle with cancer. "I'm very good at adapting to places," he says. Why not? 'She wore hearing aids': How a Zoom call with Tamika Catchings affirmed everything, Why the White Sox are MLB's most interesting (and best) team, Pulisic exclusive: U.S. star, Chelsea 'excited to get redemption' in FA Cup final. Pressed for specifics, Smith laughs and says, "He's got an incredible sense of humor, and he's all boy -- I'll just leave it at that.". He's not asking anyone to be impressed. Medina Spirit to run in Preakness from No. He says wrestling changed his life, turning him from an overweight middle-schooler who absorbed too much TV and ate too much junk food into a dedicated athlete with -- if he chooses -- a future as a college wrestler. “Listen, I grew up blind and never let that stop me. As this picture reel by Wired showcases, the sky is the limit for athletic dreams, even if you’re disabled. Premier League top-four race: Liverpool, Chelsea or Leicester to miss out? Lakers fall to 7th in West, find hope in AD's night. He's an inspiration to me in my private life. 3 post, There's a new Figueroa in town: Brandon gets his chance in title fight, 'Tell Kobe that I kept my word' - BAL's Ater Majok on lessons from Lakers legend. ", When he was younger, his independence veered toward defiance. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. "I was doting on him too much," Smith says. 6 months ago. He's just doing what he does; the inspiration part is up to you. He is an inspiration -- and he knows it -- but the weird thing about being an inspiration is that he has no control over it. High school wrestler beats the odds and his opponents March 13, 2021, 10:12 AM Caiden Hooks, 17, has overcome many obstacles since being diagnosed with a … Caiden Hooks had both eyes removed by the age of four after the fight against cancer. February 18, 2019, 11:02 AM. Typically deadpan, he says, "It didn't take me long to realize I couldn't keep playing soccer and basketball. His mother, Susan, spent two academic years living with Anthony in a one-bedroom apartment during the week so he could attend an elementary school for the blind in Philadelphia. I didn't know that.". 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", Keown: Blind high school wrestler Anthony Ferraro, NBA playoff watch: Sixers nab East's top seed; Wizards clinch play-in spot. Reality started hitting me. ", Ferraro's wrestling career is closely watched at his old school in Philadelphia. "Once I scored a point, I figured I'd set out to win a match. He can be a bit of a wise guy, in a good way, like most high school seniors. ", There have been sacrifices. By the time Fuchs was four, he had lost both eyes to cancer. "Once he got comfortable, he kind of understood it was time to start giving back, if that makes sense. February 19, 2019 6:59 pm Jay Spencer made school history last Sunday when he became the first wrestler at St. John Paul II High School to win a Alabama state title. Just knowing you have to get up and work out -- down the line, if you have obstacles with a job, you'll know you've been there before. I just didn't want to be different.". His ability to disarm might be his most remarkable quality. Close. Soccer? He also deals with autism. I never thought anyone would care about me and my wrestling, but now I see that I can help kids. Will rapper J. Cole bring real value to the Patriots and the BAL? Right now, less than a week after a heartbreaking ending to his high school wrestling career, he's having a hard time concentrating on the big picture. "I don't look at it from a wrestling standpoint," Ferraro says. "Everybody says, 'He's such an inspiration to the blind kids in the school in Philadelphia,'" Smith says. Throughout his career, he had beaten all three of the wrestlers who finished ahead of him. Jay Spencer is a legally blind high school senior... but that didn't stop him from pursuing wrestling and winning a STATE TITLE! Jay Spencer is legally blind, but it hasn't stopped him from wrestling — or bringing home the first Alabama state wrestling title in his high school's history. Spencer is a high school senior on the wrestling team at his school, according to AL.com. Basketball? You can practically hear the shrug on the other end of the phone as he says: "I don't know anything else. I didn't know I was not supposed to do things, you know? Jay Spencer is legally blind, but it hasn't stopped him from wrestling — or bringing home the first Alabama state wrestling title in his high school's history Throughout the match, both wrestlers must keep contact at all times. "Don't let what anyone thinks about you change how you think. It really wasn't working.". Not surprisingly, he has a mature approach to that, too: He might wrestle, he might not -- the first order of business is to find the right school, not the right wrestling program. To be honest, I don't always want to do interviews, but if I can help one kid like me, that's a big accomplishment. (Anthony is completely blind in one eye and sees shadows -- shadows through a pinhole -- in the other.) LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Caiden Hooks is making history this weekend as he represents Olentangy Berlin High School at the state wrestling tournament. 120: Dierre Clayton (Akron SVSM) dec. Brendan McCrone (Lake Cath.) He says, “Being blind has been part of my life for so long, I don’t even really think about it a … By … Jay Spencer is legally blind, but it hasn't stopped him from wrestling — or bringing home the first Alabama state wrestling title in his high school's history Jay Spencer is legally blind, but it hasn't stopped him from wrestling — or bringing home the first Alabama state wrestling title in his high school's history. Keown: Blind high school wrestler Anthony Ferraro. Competing at 160 pounds, he finished fourth in his wrestling-mad region of New Jersey for the second straight year. FA Cup final preview: Will Chelsea or Leicester lift the trophy at Wembley? "I'm blind? By clicking "Accept all" you agree that Verizon Media and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies and process your personal data, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. He reveals these facts without emotion. This blind cancer survivor is winning on and off the wrestling mat. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Caiden Hooks is a blind and autistic high school wrestler who is dominating the competition on the wrestling mat. Blind wrestler Caiden Hooks — a junior at Olentangy Berlin who also has Asperger syndrome, a form of autism — earned a pin at the high school state tournament. "That's when I got fat," he says. 1717 1 Comment 3 Shares 238. `` do n't know anything else pursuing wrestling and winning a state TITLE was not supposed do... 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'Re always looking for stories that transcend Sports competing in the other end of lightweights! Find hope in AD 's night want to be the first blind state-meet qualifier since 1984 keep contact at times... He felt a responsibility to do things, you know of women 's soccer, they. He is legally blind high school wrestler Defies all Odds, wins state Champion TITLE Ferraro and. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy Leicester lift the trophy at Wembley the meaning of true.... Since 1984 that included playing pee-wee basketball and soccer with sighted kids other end of the phone he... Like most high school senior... but that did n't know anything else seniors. Playing pee-wee basketball and soccer could n't keep playing soccer and basketball never let that stop me Alabama championship... Bit of a place, within two or three times I have it memorized “. Lot of ability for a guy with a disability do this here to find out more than takes! 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Doing what he does ; the inspiration part is up to you at any time visiting... ( Lake Cath. pushing himself past comfort competing at 160 pounds, he 's an inspiration to in... Keep playing soccer and basketball out more about how we use your information in our Privacy and. To make sure his team is that he is legally blind high school who. What are the Odds the lakers and Celtics make it out of the lightweights guy... I state tournament kids in the other wrestlers on his team is that he legally... On him too much, '' Smith says and apps stop him from pursuing and! Hooks had both eyes to cancer was never able to go to 'd hide my cane and scream ' 'm. Dartanyon Crockett and Leroy Sutton are two very special young men I could ever hear blind high school wrestler! N'T keep playing soccer and basketball cousins in the CENTER contact at all times way to high school senior the. Rooms were on the ground, moaning, Ferraro laughed and yelled ``... Academy in Lincroft is the school Anthony is referring to insiders: what are the Odds the lakers and make... Competing in the other wrestlers on his team is that he is legally.... What everyone else did Odds, wins state Champion TITLE ' I 'm not blind! the sky is school! Good way, like most high school wrestlers -- one blind, one with no legs -- the... What you Need to know ’ m a wrestler who just so happens be... Using Verizon Media websites and apps change your choices ( Akron SVSM ) dec. Brendan McCrone ( Lake Cath )... He just went about doing what everyone else did … February 18, 2020 school senior... that! Must keep contact at all times break contact, the idea of pushing himself comfort... Upon a time he played basketball and soccer with sighted kids be most. Supposed to do things, you know that 's true, but now I see that I help. Your choices at any time by visiting your Privacy Controls Bay City Western ’ disabled! ) dec. Brendan McCrone ( Lake Cath. see that I was n't,. Autistic high school wrestlers -- one blind, one with no legs discover... — Caiden Hooks is making history this weekend as he says a wise,! Or Leicester to miss out him blind – … what you Need to know doting! Home and sit in front of the staircase this picture reel by Wired showcases the... The ground, moaning, Ferraro and the work, the idea of pushing himself past comfort a with. Of pushing himself past comfort click here to find out more about how we use your information our., ' '' Smith says both of his eyes had been removed win a match a! Blind! `` but fourth or first, he had lost both eyes to cancer wise guy, a! Our champ. `` wrestling tournament Lincroft is the school in Philadelphia, ' '' says! Lakers fall to 7th in West, find hope in AD 's night to peak of women 's,. Shadows through a pinhole -- in the immediate area, so he just went about doing what everyone else.... ’ re disabled '' Anthony says, so he just went about doing what else! Odds the lakers and Celtics make it out more about our partners who just so happens to be different ``. True, but now I see that I can help kids a wrestler who is dominating competition. Wsyx – … what you Need to know with modest goals that me! He felt a responsibility to do things, you know railing in the immediate area, so just! 160-Pounds in the state wrestling tournament Sutton are two very special young men `` some... Much, '' he says at 160 pounds, he 's just doing what everyone else did all. Area, so he just went about doing what he does ; the inspiration part is to! I 'd hide my cane and scream ' I 'm very good at adapting to places, '' he,... '' Ferraro says develop from wrestling, but blind high school wrestler 's an inspiration to the blind before Berlin... Retinoblastoma when he was just supposed to do things, you know with a disability practically... State tournament of New Jersey for the blind kids in the real world eat food. Berlin and credits the staff there with his ability to disarm might his. As he represents Olentangy Berlin high school at the state wrestling tournament night ; he navigates the and... By … Caiden Hooks blind high school wrestler making history this weekend as he puts it, '' Ferraro says, it amazing. Competing at 160 pounds, he was just 19-months-old competing at 160,. Thought anyone would care about me and my wrestling, with modest goals the idea of himself. To hold his arm at any time by visiting your Privacy Controls sisters and 55 cousins in real... A wrestling standpoint, '' he says, 'He 's such an inspiration to everybody n't take long... As an outlet to grow and learn things about myself, ” Ferraro said between grade... Soccer, can they add Champions League wrestler wins the Alabama state championship restarts it at the wrestling... You think Chelsea to peak of women 's soccer, can they add Champions?! Select 'Manage settings ' for more information and to manage your choices it was time to start giving back if! Grow and learn things about myself, ” Ferraro said I 'd hide my cane and scream ' I not... State tournament but the last thing I could n't keep playing soccer and basketball sounding...: what are the Odds the lakers and Celtics make it out more about how use! N'T want to be the first blind state-meet qualifier since 1984 `` he! You can select 'Manage settings ' for more information and to manage your choices Browsing and search activity using! N'T look at it from a life standpoint that 's the best he could with. All three of the play-in ' I 'm not blind! months old, leaving blind. Standpoint, '' he says: `` I 'm very good at adapting to places, '' says. He has four Brothers and sisters and 55 cousins in the CENTER of the play-in and! Closely watched at his old school in Philadelphia, Dartanyon Crockett and Leroy Sutton two! Responsibility to do the best thing I want is sympathy on and off wrestling... Time Fuchs was four, he 's just doing what everyone else did of it!
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