Tulsa Union's Brian Crutchmer doesn't let metal rods in his spine slow him down

And he does all this with metal rods in his spine.

When Crutchmer was 4 years old, he had a serious medical condition that showed up as a birth defect. It prevented him from walking and would require major surgery.

Doctors told the Crutchmer family that Brian wouldn't walk again and definitely wouldn't be able to play sports anymore.

They were wrong.

His dad, Tulsa Union wrestling coach Kevin Crutchmer, made him do workouts with his legs, and he walked again. Brian began playing soccer at age 7 and football at age 8, and he began wrestling in the 6th grade with his younger brother Kyle.

Crutchmer now wrestles with metal rods in his spine that were placed there to combat his condition and keep fluid flowing through his spine, but he doesn't let it faze him on the mat.

“It hurts every once in a while, but I don't worry about my back.” Crutchmer said.

He is grateful for everything he has been able to accomplish but hasn't reached his goal: to be better than his brother, Kyle Crutchmer.

Kyle is the 6A state champion at 171 pounds, and he beat OSU signee and two-time state champion Zach Skates of Broken Arrow for that title.

Kyle has received offers from a number of schools, including OU, OSU and Maryland.

“I hope he is better than me — he's my brother I wish him the best and hope he does well in everything he does,” Kyle Crutchmer said.

Kevin Crutchmer has coached his sons since they began wrestling in the sixth grade, and they have been working in the family's property management business.