Below is your 2017 USA Team!
Both athletes and coaches will be representing USA for the 2017 Summer Deaflympics to be held in Samsun, Turkey from July 18 to 30.
Do learn more about athletes and coaches' bios and their specialty below. Go Red, White, Blue!
Jadan Anderson Sprint & Relay
Hometown: , Texas
High School: Texas School for the Deaf
Gareth Ashton Sprint & Relay
Hometown: , Texas
High School: Texas School for the Deaf
Elizabeth Barbiers Distance
Hometown: Tucker, Georgia
High School: Carl Albert HS
College: Southwestern College
Dwayne Esper Jr. Sprint & Relay
Hometown: Calumet City, Illinois
High School: Illinois School for the Deaf
College: Harper College
Delvin Furlough Sprint & Relay
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
High School: Texas School for the Deaf
Darrion Green Hurdles
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
High School: Woodrow Wilson HS
Ryan Guldan Distance
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
High School: Bartlesville HS
College: University of Tulsa
MaKenzie Hageman Sprint, Jump, & Relay
Hometown: Tea, South Dakota
High School: Waverly HS
College: Northern State University
Gunner Hahn Hurdles
Hometown: Marshfield, Wisconsin
High School: Wisconsin School for the Deaf
College: Gallaudet University
Jacob Hockman Throw
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
High School: Centralia HS
College: University of Missouri–Kansas City
Nicolas Jones Jump
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
High School: Missouri School for the Deaf
College: Gallaudet University
Taylor Koss Sprint, Hurdles, & Relay
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin
High School: Wisconsin School for the Deaf
College: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Shellane McKitty Sprint
Hometown: Bronx, New York
High School: New York School for the Deaf
College: Gallaudet University
Brady Perry Sprint & Relay
Hometown: , Maryland
High School: Maryland School for the Deaf
Junior Peters Relay
Hometown: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
High School: Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf
Jaida Scott Sprint & Relay
Hometown: Georgetown, Texas
High School: Texas School for the Deaf
Michael Singleton, Jr. Sprint & Relay
Hometown: , Texas
High School: Texas School for the Deaf
Nicola Stein Sprint & Relay
Hometown: Kyle, Texas
High School: Texas School for the Deaf
Carly Timpson Jump & Throw
Hometown: Narragansett, Rhode Island
High School: Narragansett HS
College: Quinnipiac University
Janna Vander Meulen Sprint, Hurdles, & Relay
Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon
High School: Rogers HS
College: Western Oregon University
Alex Weis Throw
Hometown: Mankato, Minnesota
High School: Luverne HS
College: Southwest Minnesota State University
Thomas Withrow Head Coach
DOB: August 11
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Family: Wife – Heather, Children – Skyler, Anastasia and Orion
Former Deaflympian as an Athlete: ‘81, ’85, ’89, ’93, ’97, ’01
Years of coaching: 34 years
Previous Deaflympics coaching: Throws ’93, ’97; Head coach ’01, ’05, ’09, and ’13
Area of specialty: Throws and Head coach
Hobbies: gardening, pins collection, preparing for Deaflympics
Karen Gilbert Team Leader
DOB: July 27
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Family: Children - Alana, Kiana, Jana and Jared
Former Deaflympian as an Athlete: Women Volleyball team 1997
Years of coaching: 15 years
Hobbies: Cooking, reading, and swimming
Tobin Daniels Coach
DOB: February 21
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Family: Children – Dakota and Adele
Former Deaflympian as an Athlete: ‘89
Years of coaching: years
Area of specialty: Distances
Hobbies:
Steven Fuerst Coach
DOB: May 6
Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota
Family: Wife – Suzette, Children – Isabelle, Camelia, Tomas and Lukas
Years of coaching: 19 years
Previous Deaflympics coaching: 2013
Area of specialty: 4×100 and 4×400 Relays, and Hurdles
Hobbies: Downhill Skiing, Mountain Biking, and Camping
Rohan Smith Coach
DOB: March 19
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Family: Girlfriend Ilona, daughter Olena
Former Deaflympian as an Athlete: ’85, ’89, ’93, ‘97
Years of coaching: 15
Previous Deaflympics coaching: 3 times
Area of specialty: Sprints
Hobbies: Reading, exercising
Justin Romero Coach
DOB: September 29
Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Family: Wife - April, Son - Duke
Former Athlete: University of Northern Iowa (Shot Put - 19.01m & Discus - 50.33m)
Years of coaching: 5 years
Area of specialty: Throws
Hobbies: Watching every sports & playing video games.
Lawrence K. Smith (Larry) Coach
DOB: July 18
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Family: Children - Jazmine, Isiah, Kimani
Years of coaching: 24 years
Previous Deaflympics coaching: 2009, 2013
Area of specialty: Hurdlers and Relays
Hobbies: Gardening, Barbecuing, Grilling and Love to listen Reggae music