DECATUR, IL (WAND) “No Excuses.”
It’s not just a t-shirt slogan to Illinois high school sophomore Irina Yeakley — it’s a bona fide lifestyle.
Yeakley suits up for the Decatur Christian Warriors despite having deformed and missing fingers, plus a prosthetic leg that she custom-designed with Harry Potter slogans and insignia.
Despite the physical differences between her and her opponents, she not only shows up — she’s the Warriors’ best player.
“I just work hard and I don’t act like I have a disability,” Yeakley said. “I don’t feel sorry for myself either because I’ve worked hard to (get) where I am.”
“We chose her as a captain because of her leadership abilities,” head coach Mikayla Lehman said, “and what she can do even though she has a disability.”