It wasn’t a perfect season on the scoreboard for the girls volleyball team at Fremont’s California School for the Deaf, but it was perfect in many other ways.
The memories the players built during a 16-match season this fall won’t soon be forgotten.
They hugged, smiled and cheered one another on, using American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate as their coach and 2016 graduate of the school, Farrah Harmount, led the way.
The team’s roster included Shaelyn Johnson, who does it all. In addition to volleyball, she plays basketball and softball, cheerleads and was named Homecoming queen.
CSD opened in 1860 in San Francisco, moved to Berkeley nine years later and has been at its current location — a 91-acre campus in Fremont — since 1980.
The volleyball team finished 4-12 overall and 3-7 in its league this season.
California School for the Deaf’s Shaila Sams (10) gets a hug after their 3-0 loss to California Crosspoint Academy in the third set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) The California School for the Deaf bench celebrates a point against California Crosspoint Academy in the second set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) California School for the Deaf’s Shaila Sams (10) bumps the ball against California Crosspoint Academy in the first set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) California School for the Deaf’s Shaelyn Johnson (2) celebrates a point against California Crosspoint Academy in the first set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) California School for the Deaf girls volleyball head coach Farrah Harmount signs to her team after their 3-0 loss to California Crosspoint Academy in the third set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) California School for the Deaf’s Zoe Bell (1) reaches for the ball against California Crosspoint Academy in the first set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) California School for the Deaf students sign to each other during the girls volleyball game against California Crosspoint Academy in the third set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) California School for the Deaf’s Shaila Sams (10), right, signs with California School for the Deaf football player Bodhi Amann (4) before their game against California Crosspoint Academy at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Athletic trainer Chloe Bell, right, works on California School for the Deaf’s Shaelyn Johnson (2) before their game against California Crosspoint Academy in the first set at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
