RHS grappler overcoming disability
Corey Bates says he is no different than anyone else despite being hearing impaired
12/26/04
Misty Martin
When Ringgold wrestling coach Phil Daniel encouraged Corey Bates to come out for middle school wrestling, he said he overlooked the youngster’s disability.
Three years later, the state championship coach says the junior’s hearing impairment “makes him no different from anyone else” on his team.
“Corey has the heart of a champion,” Daniel said. “If anything, it makes him that much more special.” Bates said he established a quick rapport with his coach and mentor, who learned sign language to speak to him on the mat.
“Coach always knows what’s best for me,” he said. “He’s a really good man, and I’m glad he got me into wrestling.”
Daniel said from the first time Corey stepped on the mat, he knew he needed a coach and an interpreter to be successful. Jonathan Bordean has never wrestled in his life, but the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School teacher of deaf students learned the sport so he could help out his star pupil.
“When it comes to Corey, I put on my blue and white,” Bordean said. “He’s just a great guy, and it makes what I do really special. He’s able to communicate through me and compete just like anyone else.”
Bordean said the 215-pounder’s only drawback as a competitor is that he occasionally forgets his interpreter and coach are there on the sidelines.
“Corey is a great listener (despite his impairment),” he said. “The only thing we need to work on is getting him to pay more attention to us on the mat. But he gets excited out there, and it’s hard for him to remember.”
Physically, the only thing that is holding Bates back is that he hasn’t wrestled most of his life.
But Daniel and Bates both agree that the wrestler’s move from the Tennessee School of Deaf in Knoxville, Tenn., when he was in the seventh grade has been a positive experience for everyone.
“There are just no limits with him,” Daniel said. “He works just as hard or harder than anyone we have.”
Bates said he intends to work on improving his wrestling abilities, and eventually wrestle at the college level. But if he never earns a scholarship or wins another match, it’s all been worth it, he said.
“It’s very exciting to be a part of this program,” he said.
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