Volleyball helped give Bradley, Radomski a voice

Cullen Bradley doesn’t have many memories about attending the Child’s Voice school for deaf and hard of hearing children in Wood Dale.

He was only a tyke, and it was 20 years ago. But he was there. So was his pal, Chris Radomski.

Decades after attending Child’s Voice, Bradley and Radomski — they played four years of high school volleyball at Hinsdale Central and Schaumburg, respectively — are both on the USA Deaf Volleyball men’s national team gearing up to compete in the 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, Nov. 15-26.

“It’s been pretty special to reconnect years later through volleyball,” said Radomski, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter in an email. “We both went down very different paths growing up, but playing together again on Team USA has brought things full circle. It’s something that means a lot to both of us.”

It was actually Radomski’s father, Adam, who facilitated the reunion. Attending Illinois State at the time, Bradley bumped into Adam Radomski at a club volleyball tournament.

“He saw my (cochlear) implants and came up to talk to me and told me about his deaf son,” said Bradley, a 6-1 outside hitter on the national team.

One thing led to another, and mainly through Adam Radomski’s urging and persistence the boys both went to national team tryouts in Asheville, North Carolina, in July 2023.

“Chris and I ended up traveling to tryouts together and becoming good friends after meeting up,” Bradley said.

They succeeded in their pursuit of a roster spot and went on to help the United States reach the bronze medal match at the fifth World Deaf Volleyball Championships in Okinawa, Japan, in June 2024.

“While the opportunity to play at the international level was amazing, I don't think it will compare to the Deaflympics. Many of us (me included) haven't been on this stage before, so it'll be an entirely new experience, and I can't wait,” Bradley said.

“That will be the first Deaflympics for both of us,” Radomski said, “and our goal is to build on what we learned in Okinawa and bring home a gold medal for the U.S.”

A photo of the former Daily Herald All-Area player graces the USA Deaf Volleyball landing page.

A junior at Benedictine University in Lisle, in the 2025 season Radomski led the 16-10 Eagles in kills with 319 while being honored both as a first-team all-conference player and as a scholar-athlete in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Bradley lives in South Bend, Indiana, and works as a firmware test engineer at LEA Professional. He graduated in May from Purdue University, where he was a practice player with the women’s volleyball team and also helped Purdue’s men’s club team win a national title. Bradley was named most valuable player within his division.

Radomski was born deaf, while Bradley quickly lost his hearing and got implants at 3 years old.

Though pre-serve communication among hearing players is often nonverbal, Bradley said deaf players are “hyperaware” of the need to communicate tempo and player position. They figure out in advance which players have first and second touches on balls.

“We've worked these things out ahead of time and played together enough to trust one another,” Bradley wrote in email.

Waving while a ball is in the air replaces hearing players’ “I go” or “mine.”

“Communication can definitely be challenging at times on Team USA, but my teammates and coaches have been very supportive,” Radomski said. “It’s pushed me to be more adaptable and has made me a better player overall.”

Warren forever

Warren High School recently debuted its Blue Devil Badge, an effort to get more senior citizens involved in supporting school athletics and activities.

The badge provides free entry to any home non-playoff athletic or activity event for people 60 and up living within the high school boundaries.

It’s valid for one school year and available by bringing in proof of age and address and photo identification to Warren’s Almond Campus reception desk during school hours. Seniors then present their card at the entry gate for admission.

Last week District 121 communications specialist Candy Reimholz said the badge initiative received great feedback at Warren’s Oct. 3 homecoming.

“We actually just had to order more because we had more people interested than we expected,” she said.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com