Sports

Waukesha Native Heads to Deaflympics in Bulgaria

Jenny Woyahn, formerly of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is ranked No. 10 in the world among deaf tennis players and is a junior tennis instructor at the athletic club.

By Melanie Santostefano 

An Illinois tennis instructor, Jenny Woyahn, is ranked No. 10 in the world among deaf tennis players, and is headed to Bulgaria in the coming weeks to compete for the second time in the Deaflympics.

The Deaflympics are similar to the Olympics, but all participants have hearing impairments. 

Woyahn, who was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been hearing impaired since shortly after birth. Despite her disability, she is able to communicate verbally and very well through the use of hearing aids.

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Now 27, she has been playing tennis since she was just 4-years-old.

She says tennis started out as an activity to keep her busy as a child, but has since blossomed into one of her true passions in life.    

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During her senior year while on the tennis team at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, she became aware of a chance to try out for the 2009 Deaflympics U.S. team, held in Taipei, Taiwan.

“I tried out, and made the U.S. team. It was an amazing experience and the first time I encountered deaf people from other countries,” Woyohn said. “Here in the United States, I am considered hearing impaired, but in most other countries, I would be considered deaf.”

Before leaving for Taiwan, Woyohn applied for a position teaching tennis at Palatine’s Midtown Athletic Club and was hired almost immediately upon returning from the games, where she placed 5th in mixed doubles.

Now, she is now looking forward to a chance to achieve even more in Sofia, Bulgaria. She will be competing in single, mixed doubles and women's doubles. 

Woyahn has been working at Midtown Athletic Club in Palatine, IL, since she was hired back in 2010. The cost to be a part of the Deaflympics can reach up to $4,500, so the club is helping to fund Woyahn’s trip.

“As a company, we decided to help her raise the funds to get there. Jenny is so loved by the members, so we are having a fundraiser and send-off party,” said Anish Manrai, director of tennis, and Woyahn’s supervisor at Midtown Athletic Club.

The event is limited to members and guests, and those who attend will be given the opportunity to donate funds towards Woyahn’s trip, Manrai said.

“Jenny is a very ambitious, caring and outgoing girl; she embraces and puts her heart into everything she does,” Manrai said.  “She also has never let any challenges she faces deter her from her goals."

Woyahn will be leaving July 22 for Bulgaria, and the Deaflympics games start on July 26. 

“It’s a dream come true to play for the USA again, my ultimate goal is to try and medal,” Woyahn said. “I want to get on that podium.”


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