McMinn Central’s Karina Bystry Inspires the Chargerettes

Englewood, TN-(WDEF-TV) The McMinn Central girls basketball team has already secured the district title. The Chargerettes have had an inspired season, but they have an even more inspiring story on their roster. News 12’s Angela Moryan has this special Chargerettes story.

Said teammate Molly Masingale: “I think it’s amazing what she does. I mean, she helps our team so much, and despite her hearing aids, she plays amazing.”

McMinn Central’s Karina Bystry has worn hearing aids her entire life after being born with partial hearing loss. But that hasn’t kept her from playing the sport she loves — basketball.

Said Bystry: “When I’m into the game, I actually don’t hear the crowd outside…. It blocks out all the people, so especially when I’m shooting free throws, I don’t hear anybody yelling like making rude comments or whatever. All I can do is just focus on the court, and I’m glad they do that for me.”

Said head coach Johnny Morgan: “It’s not anything that I’ve even thought about. She hears me as well as any of the other players most of the time… I feel like I’ve got eight girls that can start, that I’m confident in, and she’s one of the eight. She’s been a big factor, and she’s been a big contributor.”

Bystry has been surrounded by supportive coaches her entire career. Her little league coach would speak into a device specifically so she could hear across the court.

Said Bystry: “Having coaches like that has really helped me, and I’m glad they didn’t cripple me along my way.”

Reading the story of famous Lady Vol Tamika Catchings also encouraged Bystry.

Said Bystry: “She is a big inspiration — I’ve always wanted to be a Lady Vol — especially with hearing loss. My mom recommended that book to me, and I was like, why? Then I realized she has hearing loss. Her talking about her story is really inspiring to me.”

Said Morgan: “Winners look for ways to win, and the loser looks for excuses why they lost. I think that she’s always been a winner. She’s just finding a way to win. She’s finding a way to be successful. She’s not saying, ‘Well, I can’t hear. That’s the reason that girl scored on me. That’s the reason I missed that shot. So there’s never any excuses from her.”

Said Masingale: “It’s a huge example, especially if there were little girls and boys with the same issue. She proves that you can do it and overcome it.”

Said Bystry: “It’s just an accessory. It’s nothing to worry about.”