Hassan Hawthorne is an 18-year old senior at Alabama’s Pelham high school, who is freakishly strong, super athletic. He recently ended his undefeated wrestling season by beating Southside-Gadsden’s Landon Thompson to finish 37-0 and win the Class 6A, 145-pound title at the AHSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

Hassan also has no legs below his knees.

Southside’s coach Kyle Routon spoke to al.com about why it is particularly difficult to prepare for Hassan Hawthorne and why Harthorne has been able to find such incredible success despite having no legs.

“It’s tough because (Hawthorne) wrestles like that all the time and we don’t get to see it,” Routon said. “He’s so long and would be about 6-foot-3 or 6-4 and we were just trying to protect our lead leg because his arms are so long. His reach was a huge difference, I mean the only way you can attack him is by dragging or with a front leg lock. He’s just so tough.”

Born without tibias, a condition called tibial hemimelia, Hawthorne first had one of his legs amputated at just three years old. He spent most of his life with one leg, but unfortunately had to have the other leg amputated two years ago.

Since then, he has adjusted to having no legs well enough to be named Most Valuable Wrestler in the 6A division and has plans to continue wrestling in college, but has currently yet to choose a school.