Kris Silbaugh, born without left hand, sets high school receiving record
A Pennsylvania high schooler who only has one hand has been dominating the gridiron over the last four years. You’ll never guess what his primary position is.
Kris Silbaugh, who was born without a left hand, recently broke the Cambridge Springs High School record for receiving yards. According to ESPN.com, he is just a few catches away from setting the school record for receptions, as well.
Silbaugh catches seemingly everything that comes his way, and that includes when he plays defensive back in addition to receiver. In the offseason, he plays basketball and volleyball. A custom glove Silbaugh wears on his left arm helps him cushion passes and trap the ball against his body.
“Ever since I was younger, I wanted to be a wide receiver,” Silbaugh told The Erie Times-News a year ago. “I figured I was fast enough to get by defenders and I could catch pretty well. Since I was born without a left hand, I grew up learning to do everything with one hand. It’s pretty easy to adjust to everything.”
We have seen athletes overcome some amazing obstacles to excel in their sports, and Silbaugh’s story is certainly one of the most inspiring. You’d never know he was born with a disability by watching him play football.
