Posted at: 02/01/2010 9:33 PM | KSAX.com

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KMS Senior Wrestler Competes with Serious Disease

KERKHOVEN, Minn.- At first glance Tyler Carlson looks like your average senior high school wrestler. But he hits the mats everyday living with Crohn's Disease.

"It's called Crohn's Disease. It just takes me out, you get a flare up it's called. It's all in the intestinal track, and once I got a flare up it's usually a hospital visit" Tyler explains.

The disease sidelined him for two seasons for KMS. After numerous surgeries, Tyler has lost a large portion of his intestines and has a bag attached to him at all times to collect fluid and waste.

Carlson's freshman and sophomore wrestling seasons were sacrificed due to surgeries from the disease. But Tyler's junior and senior year have been going great with 74 total wins to his name and minimal illness from the disease.

"He's just doing a fantastic" KMS Head Coach Wes Haglund says. "Since he started wrestling he's been a little fireball. If he gets behind in a match I don't even worry because as the match goes progresses he gets much tougher and stronger."

Tyler now looks forward to ending his wrestling career strong at KMS and looks forward to attending college next year.

Written for the web by Tony Seeman

aseeman@ksax.com