2017 Samsun LogoLogo-Deaflympics-SM

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!

Athletes

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

Coaches

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