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He had no feeling in his arm. Now he could be a national NCAA champion | The Kansas City Star

As Missouri’s wrestling season began in the fall, coach Brian Smith had no idea what to expect out of Grant Leeth.

Maybe more concerning, Grant Leeth had no idea what to expect out of Grant Leeth.

A severe neck injury had sidelined Leeth, a Kearney High graduate, for almost three years. Yet the redshirt junior insisted on wrestling even when Smith told Leeth’s family that he should retire from the sport.

But a season that has been full of upset wins now has Leeth, Missouri’s starter at 149 pounds, at NCAA championships as one of the program’s best hopes for a national title.