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Cerney defies odds, focused on PIAA diving title
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JoAnne Klimovich Harrop can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7889.
The 15-year-old freshman from Pine-Richland was born deaf, but she hasn't allowed that to keep her from competing -- and doing well -- in sports. She is one of six WPIAL Class AAA divers who qualified for today's PIAA 1-meter diving championships at Penn State's McCoy Natatorium.
"I just accept myself," said Cerney, via email, who finished third at last month's WPIAL championships. "I think I am the same as everyone else. I just speak a different language. Actually, I think it is cool to be deaf. Lots of people always want to learn sign language and think it's cool."
Using sign language is second nature to Cerney, who is one of three deaf children adopted by Janet and Brian Cerney, who are not deaf. Janet Cerney teaches American Sing Language at Pitt and Brian is an interpreter trainer.
"Anna is a great kid," her mother said. "She really loves being part of the diving team. She has made friends and the coaches try to communicate with her."
Pine-Richland coach Keith Hart said Cerney has been a welcome addition to the squad. He said she is easy to teach because she has tremendous focus. There are times she is distracted by flash cameras and sudden movements around her because her other senses compensate for the hearing loss. Hart said he doesn't treat Cerney any differently than any other diver on his squad.
"Anna is so refreshing to have on the team," Hart said. "Her love for the sport is contagious."
It isn't always easy to get her point across to those who don't know her, but her teammates know what she wants.
"Many of my teammates grew up with me in gymnastics, so they are used to signing with me," said Cerney, who used to be a competitive gymnast. "They've learned how to gesture and some simple signs -- but most of the time they fingerspell."
She knows some of her teammates so well she can guess what they are trying to say even before they say anything.
Cerney finished with a score of 400.35 for an 11-dive list at the WPIAL championships at Pine-Richland. Bethel Park's Lindsay Davis won the WPIAL event with a score of 449.75. She, along with three of Cerney's teammates, will compete today. Pine-Richland's Heather Johnston was second, Stephanie Vogt finished fourth, and Casey Lupetin in fifth place. Hempfield's Erin Greenawalt was sixth.
The top six in boys and girls advanced to the PIAA championships. The top six WPIAL boys and girls divers in Class AA also will compete today. The PIAA swimming championships begin tomorrow and end Saturday.
Cerney said she believes God gave her the talent to dive. She finds out what dive is next on her list through her interpreter, Angie McSwain, who accompanies her. The two traveled to Penn State. Cerney has been working on perfecting her diving list.
"My coach and I prepared a list of dives," she said. "Every night at practice, I go through the dives several times. The coach analyzes each dive, and tells me what he thinks it would have scored. I am so excited about Penn State. I am excited for my teammates, too. We have a really strong team, and I think we will do well."
