By Stephani Anderson Meet Hunter Statham, a deaf athlete on the girls water polo team at Washington Academic Middle School (WAMS). Hunter is an 11-year-old sixth grader who is completely deaf without cochlear implants—a medical device that replaces the function of the damaged inner ear. Unlike hearing aids, which make sounds louder, cochlear implants do…

Hunter Statham is only Sanger Unified athlete with a cochlear implant, who is now going to play water polo for WAMS with her specialized head gear. (Photo by Stephani Anderson)