CLOVER, S.C. — Athletes come in all shapes and sizes. One South Carolina volleyball player is proving that statement true by competing on just one leg.
WCCB Charlotte’s Zane Cina spent time with the Clover Blue Eagles who say their team is better with a disability.
Inside Clover High School’s gym something special is being built. Jantzen Swann is a leader on the boys volleyball team. He believes his squad has what it takes to win it all this year. He says all of his guys are special, but one player shows it more.
“I’ve never seen Kaden, like, get upset or angry or anything like that,” Swann said.
He’s talking about second year player, Kaden Odoms, who he sees as an inspiration to the entire Blue Eagles squad. Swann says it’s not just Odoms attitude that separates him, but because of the disability he plays with.
Odoms has only ever known a life on one leg.
“I’m a below knee amputee, um, prosthetic, and it happened when I was basically a baby,” Odoms said.
Seeing Odoms in action on the court shows that despite his disability his physical abilities are far above the norm.
“I’ve grown to love it. It just makes me stand out,” Odoms said. “The only bad part is getting a new leg every year or so when I grow.”
Odoms does say the prosthetic leg comes with challenges. He’s been judged before and knows it’ll happen again. Team Coach Will Plyler says he made that mistake when Odoms tried out for the volleyball team.
“My mind went to the cannots and oh, well, this kid cannot, cannot,” Coach Plyler said. “He quickly dispelled that.”
Odoms is now on year two with the team. He’s a dual athlete and plays tennis for the Blue Eagles. Coach Plyler says he inspires the rest of the team to work harder. The coach now puts a major emphasis on diversity in his team. Several foreign exchange students have made the roster and Plyler is always looking to give an opportunity to the overlooked.
“We want the the athletes that may not get an opportunity to do another fall sport, or any other sport,” Coach Plyler said.
The Blue Eagles believe they can win it all this year, and Odoms hopes to inspire others on the way to the championship.
“I hope that when people look at me, uh, they they see that you can do whatever you put your mind to,” Odoms said.
The Clover boys volleyball team will play their first match of the season on Monday at 6:45 PM against the reigning State Champions, the Dorman Cavaliers.