From Kansas to Tokyo: Sterling tennis star makes USA Deaflympics team
Chelsie Brown has never flown on an airplane, never seen the ocean and has spent most of her life in a town of roughly 2,000 people.
Yet this November, the Sterling High School tennis star will board a plane to Tokyo, Japan, to represent Team USA in the Deaflympics.
For a girl born hard of hearing, it’s a journey that once seemed unimaginable — but one she has earned through sheer talent, grit and determination.
“It’s just incredible to think about,” said her mother, Sherry Brown. “If she didn’t have the skill she has, she wouldn’t have been in the paper and they would have never been interested.”
Chelsie’s path to international competition actually began with local recognition in The Eagle. After winning last year’s Class 3-1A state singles title, The Eagle ran a story highlighting not only her championship but also her challenges growing up hard of hearing.
That story traveled farther than anyone expected and caught the attention of Team USA’s Deaflympics tennis squad, which was searching for women with hearing disabilities to compete at the 2025 Games.
At first, Sherry was skeptical when she received word that Team USA was interested in recruiting her daughter.
“I thought it had to be a scam,” Sherry said.
But after persistent outreach from the USA Deaf Sports Federation, and a personal conversation with the organization’s president, the doubts vanished.
“Sure enough, it was real,” Sherry said. “I think I’ve been in shock ever since.”
The opportunity brought new challenges.
Because Chelsie is under 18, any international competition requires a parent to accompany her. For the Browns, a hardworking, blue-collar family living in rural Kansas, the roughly $20,000 cost for expenses was daunting. They had spent years driving Chelsie to lessons and tournaments, paying for hitting partners and lessons and investing every extra dollar in her development.
“We always wanted her to have something that gave her confidence and that she could be proud of,” Sherry said.
Paying for the trip to Japan seemed nearly impossible. But when Sherry voiced her concerns, her employer, Jacam Catalysts, was adamant: The family would go no matter what. That initial support gave Sherry the reassurance she needed to start making plans.
A GoFundMe organized by a family friend has already raised more than $15,000, as the Kansas tennis community has rallied to help the family. Jacam Catalysts and The Language Group have been key sponsors for Chelsie, while the USTA Missouri Valley and USTA Kansas have also stepped in to help.
“If it wasn’t for them, there’s no way we could go,” Sherry said. “There’s no way.”
Chelsie’s tennis dominance has always come from her ability to read the game visually. While hearing athletes rely on the sound of the ball to anticipate movement, Chelsie tracks every bounce, spin and angle with her eyes. The method has served her well in Kansas, where she is a combined 65-0 over the past two years and is the top seed entering the Class 3-1A state tournament in Salina this weekend.
“It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her,” Sherry said. “This just shows you that anything is possible. It hasn’t always been the easiest road for her to get to where she is. It’s been so much work. But Chelsie deserves this so much. She’s worked so hard to get the recognition.”
For Chelsie, the Deaflympics is about more than tennis.
Growing up in Sterling, she rarely encountered other athletes who share her challenges. Being part of a team of deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, some twice her age, is a chance to connect with peers who understand her world — something she’s never experienced before.
“It’s going to be nice to be around people that have to go through the same thing as me,” she said.
Chelsie will be the youngest member of Team USA’s tennis squad and will compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles from Nov. 16-26.
“No matter what happens, she is going to go down in history as a Deaflympian,” Sherry said.
The Browns often reflect on the sacrifices that brought them here: the countless hours driving Chelsie to offseason practices and tournaments, the money spent on lessons and the relentless commitment to maximizing her talent.
Chelsie, who is still uncommitted for college, is ready for what comes next.
“I’m really excited to go,” she said. “It’s such a big opportunity to go and to be chosen for this. I’m just so excited.”
The thought of going from Sterling, Kansas, to Tokyo, Japan, is still hard for Chelsie to wrap her mind around.
But it’s the culmination of years of dedication, hard work and unwavering belief in herself.
“This just shows that there is so much power in believing in yourself,” Sherry said. “Believe in yourself and good things will come.”
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
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