ORANGE – Erika Printup tends to sit quietly in the stands when she watches her son, Rogers, play basketball for Orange Lutheran.
The silence stems mostly out of nervousness.
It’s probably a mix of some of the same nerves that were running through her body when Rogers was 18 months old.
The mother and son recall the story as if it happened minutes ago. Rogers was playing with toys in day care when another child pulled the fire alarm. That’s when Erika’s fears were confirmed.
All of the children dropped what they were doing and reacted to the screeching alarm, except Rogers. He didn’t react at all.
It was just a few days later when he was diagnosed as deaf/hard of hearing with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears.
FEARING THE WORST
Erika had suspected something was wrong after Rogers slept through a showing of “Men in Black.”
So it wasn’t a surprise to her, as her husband, Maurice, has a history of deafness in his family.
What is surprising is how Rogers has persevered even with his condition.
“No. I didn’t even think he’d be able to drive a car,” Erika said when asked if she foresaw where Rogers would be today. “I didn’t know what to expect.”
Rogers, who wears hearing aids in both ears, has become an exceptional student with a 3.8 GPA and he has been a major contributor on a Lancers team that is fighting to earn a berth in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.
In order for Orange Lutheran (13-14, 3-7) to make a run in the postseason, Lancers coach Chris Nordstrom wants Printup to do what he does best.
“Continuing to do what he’s been doing; he’s such an excellent defender,” Nordstrom said. “He gave (St. John Bosco’s) Daniel Hamilton all he could handle.”
The playoffs summon adverse situations, but because of his condition, Printup has been playing against those his whole life.
Erika took an active role in guiding Rogers through things when he was younger, but she never babied her son.
“It is what it is; we just had to work through it,” she said. “We expected him to be the same as if he was hearing … It’s life, and life is rough. We had to keep him moving forward and never coddled him.”
Added Rogers: “I think (that approach) helped me a lot. It helped me be able to face adversity and to never give up.”
STAR ON THE COURT
That upbringing has bred tenacity in Rogers, which is obvious when he plays defense.
The 6-foot-5 junior guard/forward uses his large frame and length to frustrate opponents. According to Nordstrom, colleges have taken notice of his prowess on that end of the floor.
Printup says he has offers from Weber State, Montana, Northern Arizona and American University.
Printup struggles at times to hear plays that are called by his teammates, but lucky for him, the team’s point guard, CJ Hankins, is his best friend, and the two have developed a strong rapport.
“I think a lot of the communication (between us) is eye contact and signals,” Hankins said. “It’s about knowing what spots to go to, and he goes into every game really prepared.”
Printup comes prepared to the classroom, as well.
Hankins is quite the scholar, too, and Erika hopes the two can play at an Ivy League school together after they graduate from Orange Lutheran.
“(My condition) was a lot of motivation for me,” Printup said. “It motivates me to prove people wrong, and show I can do the same things that people with regular hearing can.”
‘BEST ROLE MODEL’
Former Troy High and UCLA running back Derrick Coleman, who is now with the Seattle Seahawks, is deaf and he has been an inspiration to Printup.
Printup wished Coleman luck before the Super Bowl in a video he filmed with the John Tracy Clinic, which offers services to children up to the age of 5 who have a hearing loss.
At the clinic, Printup speaks to parents about his experiences and he has become someone the kids look up to.
“We’re just beaming with pride (about Rogers),” said Angie Stokes, director of education services at the clinic. “He’s the best role model anybody could have. He’s bright, charming, athletic, and he doesn’t forget people.”
The kid, who just wanted to prove he was ordinary and like everyone else, is now doing extraordinary things. He has gone above and beyond what was expected in the beginning of this journey.
And his mom might, for a moment, be able to watch him with ease and without nerves.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
