Personalities: Jo Blazic shines in her ‘ability within the disability’

In a silent world, Josephine (Jo) Blazic has raised her game to a fever pitch. Blazic, 19, is a 2024 Burlington High School graduate and an all-Iowa soccer player who now plays at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich. Her play on the pitch during club competition more than a year ago got the attention of a coach, who pulled her off the field to ask her if those were hearing implants in her ear. “I thought, ‘what in the heck just happened,’” said Blazic. “After the match she told me, ‘I think you could play for the deaf national team.’” You see, Blazic is deaf and has been her entire life, but she can hear through the use of cochlear implants. “I’m no response across the...