Kourtney King wants to make it abundantly clear: she has scoliosis, but the disease does not control her.

The 15-year-old South Central Calhoun freshman found out she had a curved spine when she was in seventh grade two years ago.

King is a wrestler, and has been for the past five years. She grew up around the sport, and her sister Keagan (Mandernach) King was the first-ever signee for the Grand View University women’s program.

Scoliosis is not a crutch to King, though. It’s just there — something she has to deal with rather than shy away from on and off the mat.

Submitted photo: The x-ray showing Kourtney King's curved spine. King, a South Central Calhoun freshman, has scoliosis.

“I will never use my back (condition) as an excuse for losing,” King said. “I know I can just keep pushing myself harder to get what I want.”

King was diagnosed with the disease in October of 2021 after dealing with constant pain in her hips.

“She was complaining about her hips hurting, so we took her to the chiropractor,” said her mother, Carla King. “They took x-rays and told us what some of our options were. At the time, her growth spurt was halfway done. They said she could use a brace when her spine was at a 37-degree curve.

“She was sent to Blank Children’s Hospital (in Des Moines) and they tried the Schroth Method to try and help it. She also wore a back brace for 23 hours a day, but that didn’t seem to work and the curve kept getting worse.”

With the initial diagnosis, the chiropractor said King should stop wrestling. King’s heart sunk.

Submitted photo: The King family of Lytton includes parents, Bill and Carla, and children Kylie, Keagan, Kennedy, Roger and youngest Kourtney (red dress in front).

“When I first got diagnosed with scoliosis, it felt like the whole world came crashing down,” Kourtney said. “I was very devastated. I want people to know about scoliosis and that it is painful, but it’s mind over matter. I’ve learned that I can deal with most of the pain and block it out.

“My biggest fear is surgery having to end my wrestling career.”

Now nearly one and half years later, King’s spine is at a 50 degree curve and surgery is the only option to stop the curving of the spine.

“We felt like it was our fault,” Carla and her husband, Bill, said. “We looked back at pictures when she was eight or nine years old and thought we should have seen it coming. We would say stop slouching, or stand up straight. It makes us feel bad now (in retrospect).”

King did get the blessing she was hoping for when the doctor said she could still compete on the mat.

Submitted photo: Kourtney King of South Central Calhoun poses on the mat after advancing at the regional tournament.

“When the chiropractor said no more wrestling (before), she cried,” Carla said. “But the doctor said it was OK. He said it wasn’t going to do anymore damage — and she was all smiles.

“When she gets something in her head that she wants to, she does it. She never uses it as an excuse and has worked hard to get here. God gives you something for a certain reason.

“We have to find the good in everything.”

Once surgery was on the table, the next decision was scheduling it. The doctor told the Kings that it could wait until after the wrestling season, and that’s when Kourtney knew her goal could be attained.

Reaching the inaugural girls state tournament was high on Kourtney’s priority list. The surgery was going to have to wait.

King had to go through the regional tournament and earn a fourth place or better medal. She came through the 100-pound weight class and punched her state ticket.

“Kourtney is a hard worker,” Bill said. “We have a turkey farm, and she wants to go right to the big birds. I’ll go out there and try to work with them and she says, ‘No dad, I got this.’

“She just blows my mind.”

Not only did King make history competing in the first-ever Iowa sanctioned state event, but she put her name down in the record book as the first girl to compete at the newly-sanctioned event. King met Algona’s Harley Tobin in the 100-pound first round. She lost, but bounced back with a pin against Eagle Grove’s Genessis Corado in 1:40.

“Kourtney proved she belonged down there,” Bill said. It was amazing for her to get a pin and for a dad that doesn’t cry much, there was a tear or two — or more.”

After her victory, King suffered her second loss, knocking her out of the tournament.

“When she lost her second match, she said that could be her last match she ever wrestles,” Carla said. “(Older sister) Keagan (22), who has been by her side (along with her other three siblings, Kylie (25), Kennedy (20) and Roger (18), talked with her and told her we will get back.

“She is 15 and she is scared.”

Now that the wrestling season is over, surgery is next. King will have the procedure on Feb. 10 in Iowa City.

“It needs to be done,” Carla said. “It’s putting compression on her lungs and her heart is getting displaced. This is something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.”

The surgery will be a long and invasive process that will hopefully correct the curve.

“It’s a very invasive surgery,” Carla said. “There will be a neurologist by her side and monitor her while they cut into her back. They will take the middle cartilage from the vertebrae and put screws in the vertebrae, then move the rod.

“They will make sure none of the nerves are being pinched. It will be a seven-hour procedure.”

After undergoing the surgery, a six-month recovery awaits.

“She’ll have rods in her back, but it would get back to 90 to 95 percent straight,” Carla said. “After time it will get better, and it will take up to six months of time and physical therapy for healing.

“Kourtney’s theory on the surgery was that she wanted to get better. She was ready to do it as long as it didn’t slow her down.”

Then comes the decision: to wrestle or not.

“We are very nervous (about the conversation) afterward,” Carla said. “I don’t want her to go back to wrestling, but she loves the sport so much.”

Carla and Bill know that their daughter, who can’t sit still and loves to work and loves to be on the mat, is going to have a hard time going six months without doing too much.

“Once she gets back to wrestling, she can not bend or twist,” Bill said. “The Dr. said her body will remind her.”

Kourtney doesn’t want to hide her scoliosis — she just wants everyone to know that it doesn’t have to ruin her plans.

“Kourtney tells the girls scoliosis doesn’t slow her down,” Bill said. “This is her story and anyone can fight through it. She is very passionate.

“She will never use it as an excuse.”

For Kourtney it’s simple: have the surgery, heal for six months and get back to work.

“I love wrestling,”Kourtney said. “I want to heal right and get back on the mat as soon as possible.”