Double-Amputee Wrestler Goes Undefeated, Wins State Title
Hasaan Hawthorne (right) wrestles Landon Thompson of Southside High School (Gadsden, Ala.). Photo by Eric Schultz, courtesy of Alabama Media Group
This just in from the department of “what’s your excuse?”: Hasaan Hawthorne, a double-amputee wrestler from Pelham High School in Alabama, just completed a perfect 37-0 season, winning a Class 6A state title.
Hawthorne was born without tibias, so his legs end where his knees would be. According to a profile by the Alabama Media Group, he drew inspiration from 2011 NCAA champion and one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles and started wrestling in the sixth grade.
“I said, ‘Why can’t I do it?’ It just looked cool to me,” Hawthorne told reporter Gary Estwick.
Last season, Hawthorne, then a junior, took third place in Class 6A, the classification given to the state’s second-largest group of high schools by enrollment.
Hawthorne, who stands about 6-foot-5 when he’s wearing his prosthetics, was also named MVP for Class 6A.
Hasaan Hawthorne named most Valuable Wrestler for Class 6A pic.twitter.com/hFj86x8Kde
— Daniel Boyette (@danielboyette) February 20, 2016
Hawthorne told the Alabama Media Group he intends to wrestle in college but hasn’t selected a school yet.
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Double-Amputee Wrestler Goes Undefeated, Wins State Title
Hasaan Hawthorne (right) wrestles Landon Thompson of Southside High School (Gadsden, Ala.). Photo by Eric Schultz, courtesy of Alabama Media Group
This just in from the department of “what’s your excuse?”: Hasaan Hawthorne, a double-amputee wrestler from Pelham High School in Alabama, just completed a perfect 37-0 season, winning a Class 6A state title.
Hawthorne was born without tibias, so his legs end where his knees would be. According to a profile by the Alabama Media Group, he drew inspiration from 2011 NCAA champion and one-legged wrestler Anthony Robles and started wrestling in the sixth grade.
“I said, ‘Why can’t I do it?’ It just looked cool to me,” Hawthorne told reporter Gary Estwick.
Last season, Hawthorne, then a junior, took third place in Class 6A, the classification given to the state’s second-largest group of high schools by enrollment.
Hawthorne, who stands about 6-foot-5 when he’s wearing his prosthetics, was also named MVP for Class 6A.
Hasaan Hawthorne named most Valuable Wrestler for Class 6A pic.twitter.com/hFj86x8Kde
— Daniel Boyette (@danielboyette) February 20, 2016
Hawthorne told the Alabama Media Group he intends to wrestle in college but hasn’t selected a school yet.