PARRISH, Fla. — A Lakewood Ranch basketball player who was born with hearing loss is set to represent the United States on the world stage, competing as part of Team USA at the World Deaf Basketball Championships.

  • Spencer Mauk with Team USA heading to Poland to compete
  • World Deaf Basketball Championships start Thursday, run through July 7
  • More Good News stories

The gym at Lakewood Ranch is Spencer Mauk’s second home.

“It’s an escape from everything,” Mauk said. “When I play basketball, it’s just me and the court, me and the players, just playing.”

Mauk has had hearing aids for almost her entire life. But playing basketball was never a question for her — she has the drive, and she has the talent.

It was just a matter of rewriting the book a little.

“I started learning when I was like one or two how to lip read, and ever since then it just kind of stuck,” she said. “I can get some of the things you say, but if you cover your mouth, I have no idea what you said.”

Mauk’s teammates on the girls’ varsity basketball team became sisters. And while she can’t hear people coming up behind her or a play being yelled — major challenges in her sport — they’ve found ways to make it all work.

“Hand motions, signals, we had this, we had this, we had this,” said Coach Melanie Johnson while demonstrating with her own hands.

“I just constantly move my head,” Mauk said. “I’m always moving my head, always looking for someone.”

Now, Mauk is taking her talents to the top. She’s headed to Poland to be part of Team USA, representing her country in the World Deaf Basketball Championships.

“Seeing her name on the roster — “Parrish, Florida, Spencer Mauk” — that was very exciting,” Johnson said.

While Mauk says she’s a little nervous about playing on a global stage, she also says she’s ready to make new friends and leave it all out on the court.

“I just like to help people realize just because you have a disability of some sort doesn’t mean you can’t do what other people do,” she said.

The World Deaf Basketball Championships start Thursday, June 27 and run through July 7.