Sports

Strongsville Native Pins Disease to Become Collegiate Wrestler

Harrison Hightower has battled through Legg Calve Perthese disease to become a state champion and Ohio University wrestler.

Harrison Hightower's story has a strange resemblance to that of Forrest Gump.

Like Gump, Hightower was diagnosed with a physical disease at an early age that dramatically affected the use of his legs, forcing him to wear braces.

But, just as Forrest Gump overcame such a tragic obstacle to become an impressive college athlete, so did Hightower.

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Around the same time his family moved to Strongsville, Hightower was diagnosed with Legg Calve Perthese disease. The head of his hipbone was deteriorated and stopped growing so doctors gave him leg braces.

"They were similar to the ones in Forrest Gump," Hightower said.

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The braces forced his legs to bend outwards and he had to play sports in them, causing some interesting reactions from others.

"It was kind of a struggle for a first grader and having everyone stare at you," he said.

Because the disease caused his right leg to be shorter than his left, Hightower had several surgeries where metal rods and screws were inserted into his right leg and hip to lengthen it, although he said it never ultimately worked.

"My right leg is still shorter than my left," he said.

But at a time when many would've given up, Hightower wasn't about to let this disease stop him from playing sports. 

He continued to be an athlete braces and all, even though he wasn't as fast as the other kids, making him feel like an outcast.

"Everyone else is out running fine and I'm the kid who's wearing braces," Hightower said.

His father, Stephen, got him into wrestling in fourth grade, but it was only to help him learn to tackle better for football. But it wasn't football that Hightower really wanted to play.

It was during training that he "caught the bug" and realized wrestling was the sport he really wanted to compete. And since it was pretty much a year-round commitment, other sports would just get in the way.

In a physically demanding sport like wrestling, some would think Hightower's disease would work against him. 

Not even close.

"I wrestled unorthodox at first and still a little to this day," he said. "My right leg wasn't able to grow and develop like my left leg and it caused me to not wrestle the same as everyone else. That contributed a lot to my success. A lot of guys weren't used to it, especially in high school."

During his high school years at University School, Hightower realized his style was "more funky than powerful" and the other wrestlers didn't know how to attack him.

He took that advantage and ran with it, becoming a three-time Division II champion in his weight class, placing fifth in the Ironman Tournament and winning the Brecksville Invitational twice. 

He finished his career at University School with a 156-18 record.

Hightower decided to wrestle for Virgina Tech, but soon realized it wan't the right fit.

"I wanted to get as far away as possible," he said. It wasn't all it's cracked up to be."

He transferred to Ohio University after his freshman year, following in the footsteps of his father and brother. He is majoring in business marketing.

This season he's helped propel the Bobcats to a 9-5-1 record and has the fourth most pins in the country.

After he graduates Hightower said he hopes to move back to the Cleveland area and help coach his 11-year-old brother in wrestling.

"I hope to help him win a few state titles," he said.

When asked if he would change anything about his life, even if it meant that he never had his disease, Hightower said if it weren't for Legg Calve Perthese he wouldn't have had the great opportunities he's been given.

"I would keep things the same. My leg molded me into the person I am today."


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