Pirate player shows 20/20 work ethic
By Tim Gallagher Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, November 01, 2007
HOLSTEIN, Iowa -- It's been a bummer of a week around Galva-Holstein High School. For the first time in nine years, the Pirates failed to make the state football playoffs.
"Normally we'd still be having practice this week," said Jamison Voss, the team's starting center, who couldn't get over how quickly the school emptied seconds after the bell sounded Tuesday.
"It's quiet in here," he said.
That changes in two weeks, when boys basketball begins. Voss will be part of the after-school din, as he's trying out for basketball in this, his senior year. He's hoping to add his talent and drive to the squad.
Talent? Drive? The young man has lots of both. After all, not every football and basketball team can boast of a participant who is legally blind.
But that's Jamison Voss. It's probably the last thing you'd notice.
"I wouldn't have known it if someone hadn't told me," said Coach Butch Faulkenberry, who guided Voss and his teammates to a 7-3 record this fall. "Other than being more mature, Jamison is just like anyone else."
In one sense, he is. Voss joined his teammates in devouring popcorn and watching game video at Faulkenberry's house after school Tuesday. When the game tape ended, they all headed down the block to play a quick game of football.
Voss caught a ride with a friend. He always does. For this is one difference: Unlike his classmates, he can't drive. That, too, is a bummer.
"I have what's called congenital dominant optic atrophy," said Voss, 17. "I've had it since birth, and it's not going to get worse."
In plain English, the young man's optic nerve is underdeveloped. He can see things, but they appear to be much smaller than to you and me.
"I have reading glasses that magnify print," said Voss, taking out his thick glasses. "They focus at three to four inches, so that's how close I have to hold something to read."
And he can't play baseball, the one sport that proved too difficult. "I had trouble following the ball," he said. "But I really like baseball. I watch it on TV, and I go to most of our high school games."
Off to MIT?
The condition has affected his performance in the classroom. Positively. He's a better listener because of it. He sits in the front of each classroom and now has computer technology to enlarge print.
Voss, who is ranked second in his senior class, scored a 33 out of a possible 36 on his ACT exam and lists Iowa State, Kansas State and Massachusetts Institute of Technology as college choices. He'd like to study engineering.
MIT?
"I'll probably go to Iowa State, but I'm filling out the application for MIT," he said. "The application is 27 pages."
His yearning to learn showed early in life and helped his parents, Charlie and Joni Voss, recognize something was amiss.
"He was 18 months old and just loved it when we read aloud to him," Joni said. "But he always would grab the book and pull it right up to his face to see the pictures."
A trip to the optometrist led to an MRI. Doctors feared little Jamison might have a brain tumor putting pressure on the optic nerve. They soon learned it was congenital dominant optic atrophy. It is hereditary. A younger cousin has it, to a lesser degree.
"It's very, very rare," Joni said. "When Jamison was diagnosed, there weren't many statistics on it."
It sure beats the brain tumor they initially feared 15 years ago.
"We used to take Jamison to (the University of Iowa Hospital in) Iowa City each year for tests," she said. "And we didn't have to look far in the waiting room to realize how lucky we are."
The family has realized how lucky it is back home at Holstein. Friends of Jamison consistently make sure he has a ride to and from a practice or game. For prom, they rented a limousine.
"He's a great guy," said classmate John Forristal, the Pirates' quarterback. "Jamison always does his best. He's a superbright kid and was always the first one on the field."
He was always the last to leave, his coach said. "He made sure the locker room was cleaned up," said Faulkenberry. "I can't come up with the words to compliment him for what he's done or what he means to us."
The Pirates may miss out on a state title this season, but one word comes to mind to describe the team's senior center: Champion.
One busy guy
Name: Jamison Voss
Age: 17
Grade: Senior at Galva-Holstein
ACT: 33
Activities: Football, basketball, band (baritone), quiz bowl, speech and track.
Work: Carry-out employee at Holstein Supermarket.
Plans: Study engineering at Iowa State, Kansas State or M.I.T.
"Normally we'd still be having practice this week," said Jamison Voss, the team's starting center, who couldn't get over how quickly the school emptied seconds after the bell sounded Tuesday.
"It's quiet in here," he said.
That changes in two weeks, when boys basketball begins. Voss will be part of the after-school din, as he's trying out for basketball in this, his senior year. He's hoping to add his talent and drive to the squad.
Talent? Drive? The young man has lots of both. After all, not every football and basketball team can boast of a participant who is legally blind.
But that's Jamison Voss. It's probably the last thing you'd notice.
"I wouldn't have known it if someone hadn't told me," said Coach Butch Faulkenberry, who guided Voss and his teammates to a 7-3 record this fall. "Other than being more mature, Jamison is just like anyone else."
In one sense, he is. Voss joined his teammates in devouring popcorn and watching game video at Faulkenberry's house after school Tuesday. When the game tape ended, they all headed down the block to play a quick game of football.
Voss caught a ride with a friend. He always does. For this is one difference: Unlike his classmates, he can't drive. That, too, is a bummer.
"I have what's called congenital dominant optic atrophy," said Voss, 17. "I've had it since birth, and it's not going to get worse."
In plain English, the young man's optic nerve is underdeveloped. He can see things, but they appear to be much smaller than to you and me.
"I have reading glasses that magnify print," said Voss, taking out his thick glasses. "They focus at three to four inches, so that's how close I have to hold something to read."
And he can't play baseball, the one sport that proved too difficult. "I had trouble following the ball," he said. "But I really like baseball. I watch it on TV, and I go to most of our high school games."
Off to MIT?
The condition has affected his performance in the classroom. Positively. He's a better listener because of it. He sits in the front of each classroom and now has computer technology to enlarge print.
Voss, who is ranked second in his senior class, scored a 33 out of a possible 36 on his ACT exam and lists Iowa State, Kansas State and Massachusetts Institute of Technology as college choices. He'd like to study engineering.
MIT?
"I'll probably go to Iowa State, but I'm filling out the application for MIT," he said. "The application is 27 pages."
His yearning to learn showed early in life and helped his parents, Charlie and Joni Voss, recognize something was amiss.
"He was 18 months old and just loved it when we read aloud to him," Joni said. "But he always would grab the book and pull it right up to his face to see the pictures."
A trip to the optometrist led to an MRI. Doctors feared little Jamison might have a brain tumor putting pressure on the optic nerve. They soon learned it was congenital dominant optic atrophy. It is hereditary. A younger cousin has it, to a lesser degree.
"It's very, very rare," Joni said. "When Jamison was diagnosed, there weren't many statistics on it."
It sure beats the brain tumor they initially feared 15 years ago.
"We used to take Jamison to (the University of Iowa Hospital in) Iowa City each year for tests," she said. "And we didn't have to look far in the waiting room to realize how lucky we are."
The family has realized how lucky it is back home at Holstein. Friends of Jamison consistently make sure he has a ride to and from a practice or game. For prom, they rented a limousine.
"He's a great guy," said classmate John Forristal, the Pirates' quarterback. "Jamison always does his best. He's a superbright kid and was always the first one on the field."
He was always the last to leave, his coach said. "He made sure the locker room was cleaned up," said Faulkenberry. "I can't come up with the words to compliment him for what he's done or what he means to us."
The Pirates may miss out on a state title this season, but one word comes to mind to describe the team's senior center: Champion.
One busy guy
Name: Jamison Voss
Age: 17
Grade: Senior at Galva-Holstein
ACT: 33
Activities: Football, basketball, band (baritone), quiz bowl, speech and track.
Work: Carry-out employee at Holstein Supermarket.
Plans: Study engineering at Iowa State, Kansas State or M.I.T.
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