Wyoming Wrestler Wrestles With Deafness [VIDEO]

University of Wyoming wrestler Lee (LJ) Helbig will compete in the NCAA Championships this weekend, but unlike his competitors, he will wrestle in silence. Helbig was born deaf and has a cochlear implant in his left ear to assist him with hearing, but can't wear the device when he competes.

In 2009-10, Helbig split time at 197 and heavyweight, before finishing third in the regional at heavyweight. His pin in the consolation final gave UW the needed bonus points for a half-point win over Northern Iowa. Helbig started at 197 this year and posted a 22-14 mark. His 14-4 major decision in the West Regional final clinched UW's team title this year also. Thursday morning Helbig will wrestle 8th-seeded Matt Powless from Indiana University in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Flowrestling.org put together this video on LJ and how he is able to wrestle without any hearing.

Watch more video of Mark Branch on flowrestling.org