Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
ANCHOR CHATTER... MARK CURTIS:And i thought I had a bad play
on words coming up. The Blues are in first place and the ties have it. We'll explain...
And we'll take a look at the Ladue Water Polo team and their inspirational captain just
ahead in sports.
MARK CURTIS: With Toth out Slobo, the Storm's 42 year old backup becomes the team's number
1 keeper.
Now for Slobo one of the keys tomorrow night will certainly be communication with his defenders
who constantly talk to him. But what if he couldn't hear. Greg Gyzinski has a look at
a goalkeeper from Ladue High School who has proved time and time again that you don't
have to hear to win.
GREG GYZINSKI: Ladue's Water Polo team is not one of the area's best, in fact the Rams
have only a 6-7 record. But one of their top players is goalie Paul Meyer, who is deaf.
(All background audio is muted) This is what Paul hears during a game. Now despite his
handicap he is Ladue's team captain and team leader.
GREG GYZINSKI: How difficult is it for you communicating with your teammates during a
game?
PAUL MEYER: Its hard because I cannot hear the referees speak or hear the referees blow
the whistle. So I have to rely on my teammates and how they play the game so I can see its
its called a foul or not foul.
COACH GENE BROWN: Every athlete that you get has some kind of drawback, and I mean, his
just happens to be that he can't speak, so uh, and he can't hear. so I mean there's other
kids that can't swim as fast as others so you just work around it.
GREG GYZINSKI: This is Paul's third year on the team, his teammates say it was difficult
adjusting to him at first but now he's just one of the guys.
JORDAN HIRSCHFIELD: At first when he started sophomore year we had a little trouble getting
to know how to read his lips and him getting used to reading ours but we've learned to
communicate a lot. We talk a lot outside of polo you know, just about school and things
so we get used to talking to him and he's a great guy.
GREG GYZINKSI: Although he may never hear the words of appreciation from his teammates
or the final whistle in a big victory Paul Meyer is a winner and that comes through loud
and clear. This is Greg Gyzinski, the 2 News Team.
MARK CURTIS: What a nice story.