Different but the same

At 15 months old, Berwick native Joseph Fryou contracted spinal meningitis, ultimately changing his life forever.

The illness left Joseph deaf. When most toddlers were learning English, he was tackling an entirely different language: Sign language.

From a young age, Joseph has demanded that he be treated like his brother Ryan and other children.

With the help of his parents Joseph Sr. and JoAnn Fryou and interpreters, he attended public school, participated in sports and grew up virtually unhindered by his handicap.

So, it came as little surprise to the Fryou household when young Joseph announced he intended to try out for Berwick High School’s cross-country team.

“I didn’t know what it was,” he told SportsNet via his mother JoAnn. “I found out it was running. It killed me the first week. I felt like I was dying.”

In fact, his first high school meet provided a scare for his parents. The Fryous stood anxiously searching as racers crossed the finish line – no Joseph.

“It was just us and the coach left,” JoAnn recalled. “Everyone had left – even the timekeeper. I told the coach, ‘I think the bears ate him,’ because they were (running) in the woods.”

“They had even picked up all the barricades,” his father remembered. “But he didn’t give up.”

Young Joseph did finish the race and, despite his parents’ reservations, vowed to improve.

“I fell in love with it,” he signed. “It was great for me to be on the team without having to depend heavily on communication. Actions speak louder than words.”

Over time, Joseph’s determination increased. He spent hours refining his running and, his parents proudly said, finished his Berwick years as the team’s top runner.

Joseph was a four-year letter recipient in cross country and track and field. He was also named to the All-District squad his senior year. That year, Berwick would win the district championship in the two-mile event.

Joseph’s feats earned him the attention of Nicholls State and a spot on the university’s cross-country team. Now in his third year on the team, Joseph splits his time between practice, meets and class. He is studying culinary arts.

Second-year cross-country coach Matthew Esche said he wasn’t sure how newer team members would respond to Joseph’s impairment. His worries were quickly allayed. The 20-year-old set the seamless pace, smoothing the trail.

“He’s one of those kids who asks to be treated as normal as possible,” Esche said. “It’s something he prides himself on.”

To communicate, Joseph and his coach rely on text messaging via cell phone or computers.

“If we have complications, we’ll text back and forth or we’ll go on the computer and sit down and type,” Esche explained. “We’ve typed for a couple of hours just talking back and forth in getting to know the kid.”

The only communication setback, Esche admits, is being able to offer Joseph encouragement during races. That’s when old-fashioned gesturing comes into play.

“I’ll point to my eyes and then point to the guy in front,” the coach said. “Normally, he’ll just give me a thumbs up and that will be his goal. It’s different, but it’s great.”

Esche said Joseph’s teammates embrace his drive. “After the first day, everybody loved being around him. He was one of the guys,” he said. “When they go out for runs, (Joseph is) always with them. They stay together.”

Teammate Justin Babin once considered Joseph a rival. The sophomore and junior competed in their high school days. But today, they’re great friends.

“I knew coming in how good of a person he really was,” Babin said. “It’s pretty easy to talk to him.”

Joseph’s ability to read lips, in fact, leaves many people he encounters unaware that he is unable to hear.

“It’s a real humbling, eye-opening experience for the guys on the team,” Babin said of his teammate’s abilities.

With two meets under his belt in the 2009 season, Joseph said his aim is to keep improving as the team looks to improve its Southland Conference standings.

“This year, I would like for the team not to be in last place like we were the last two years,” he signed. “Eleventh is better than 12th place even. My goal for this year is to try to break 27 minutes for an 8k (race).”

After next year’s graduation from the John Folse Culinary Institute, Joseph said he hopes to find a job in the restaurant business. He’ll continue to run and prove he can live a normal life, he vowed.

“He works hard, and has had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get where he’s at,” mom JoAnn said. “People see him as the deaf boy and not the true person he is.

“We are so proud that being deaf hasn’t hindered him,” she added. “He’s been able to live a normal life like the rest of the college students.”

And the Fryous – Joseph especially – wouldn’t have it any other way.

Joseph Fryou first began cross country at Berwick High.

Doug Keese