Wrestler Who Lost State Title Hugs Opponent's Dying Dad

This is so touching.

Wrestler Who Lost State Title Hugs Opponent’s Dying Dad

Instead of getting upset after losing, he gave his opponent’s dying father a hug. There is hope for humanity.

According to NY Daily News:

A Minnesota high school wrestler won over the crowd with a hug that came away from the mat — and after a loss.

Instead of getting upset when he lost the 120-pound title match in the Class 3A tournament, Blaine High School sophomore Malik Stewart went over to his opponent’s dad — who is dying of cancer — and gave him a hug. The crowd at the Xcel Energy Center loved it.

“He won,” Stewart said of opponent Mitchell McKee. “He was pretty proud, and his dad was pretty proud. So I went over there and I shook his hand, embraced him a little bit, and told him to stay strong and everybody loves him.”

“I got a little teary because I lost the match, and I knew the hard times he was going through,” Stewart added. “The crowd went wild and I heard a couple people say after I did it – that was pretty classy – but I just did it straight from the heart.”

Stewart lost his own father to a heart attack when he was just 7 years old. He said he was just doing the right thing.

McKee, a St. Michael Albertville High School sophomore, told KARE-TV that he wanted to win the tournament for his father, who has just months to live. He pinned Stewart around 1:22 into the face-off in the match earlier this month.

More athletes could learn from this young man’s sportsmanship.

KARE 11