By Jimmie Kaska
For the Times
WARREN, Ill. — Two football programs faced each other on Saturday, but a moment between two students from opposing sides of the gridiron match-up stole the show this past weekend.
Boscobel’s Job Wetter, a senior, is deaf and hard of hearing. Before the game, when this fact was relayed to Black Hawk-Warren head football coach Desmond Breadon, he asked if his young son could meet Job.
Like Job, Breadon’s son, Mateo, is also hard of hearing. In fact, through CESA 3, Job and Mateo share the same teacher.
Wetter, a 3-sport student-athlete who also wrestles and runs track, has spent his entire life hard of hearing. However, that hasn’t stopped him from competing at a high level in sports.
Job’s father, Lance, a former Boscobel student-athlete himself who is the head coach of the Boscobel/Wauzeka-Steuben wrestling program, said that Job’s worked hard for all of the success he’s had so far.
“The best thing about coaching Job is that his mental toughness and conditioning is second to none in the room,” Lance said. “Sometimes, though, I forget as a coach, even being his father, that if I turn my back to him, he can’t see me, and therefore can’t ‘hear’ me.”
Megan Yeomans, Job’s longtime ASL interpreter, said that what Job has been able to do despite being deaf defies explanation.
“I have had the privilege of working with Job since he was in third grade, and watching his journey has been nothing short of inspiring,” Yeomans said. “Job does not let his hearing loss hold him back. Even when he encounters obstacles or negativity, Job pushes through with strength that sets him apart.”
Job is a part of a track relay team that made it to the state finals last year. He also is in his fourth year as both a wrestler and as a football player, where he’s the state’s leader in forced fumbles halfway through the season and is a few tackles shy of 200 for his career.
What motivates Job to succeed?
“I was raised in a competitive household,” Job, the oldest of Lance and Emily’s children, said. “And when it comes to being hard of hearing, you get used to other people not knowing and having to adapt, and it pushes me to prove others wrong.”
On Saturday, after the game, Job made his way across the field to meet Mateo, where he was greeted with a hug. After an initial bout of shyness from Mateo, who is in elementary school, he opened up when Job knelt down next to him, took out his hearing aid, and showed it to Mateo.
“I see you have magic ears, just like me,” Job said. Mateo smiled and nodded. The two talked a little bit about football before taking pictures together.
Mateo’s father, Coach Breadon, said it was as special of a moment as he’s had in football as a coach and as a parent.
“That was a moment that can’t quite be put into words,” Breadon said. “To have Mateo continue to see there are other kids out there just like him and that he can do anything he wants in life and not let his lack of hearing keep him from it… Mateo loves football, so to see Job as a role model was huge.”
While he admits he never saw himself being a role model, Job said he likes the idea of having someone look up to him.
“I’ve always liked giving, not receiving,” Job said. “I didn’t have anyone older than me with hearing loss that would come and talk to me. It is neat having people come to me, because now there’s someone that can ask me questions and I’m happy to answer them.”
Job is also quick to point out that he’s had a lot of people supporting him along the way.
“I’m lucky to have had great teammates, friends like Chanse Johnson, and of course my parents and coaches,” Job said. “Miss Yeomans is my school mother and makes sure I have everything I need to do well here too,” he added, pointing at the school building.
After high school, Job is already set to continue working in construction, having already earned an apprenticeship from Findorff, the company that did the Boscobel school referendum building additions. He along with eight other Boscobel football seniors will graduate next spring.
