Wrestler loses match, moves crowd with kind act

Last week, the Class 3-A State High School Wrestling Championship was held in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The final match for the 120-lb. weight class was between St. Michael Albertville High School sophomore Mitchell McKee and Blaine High School sophomore Malik Stewart. Adding even more weight to match, Mitchell's father was in the audience. He's been battling terminal cancer and doctors have given him only two months to live.

Photo: Vanessa Schuleter

One minute and 22 seconds into the match, Mitchell pinned Malik. But rather than storm off the mat, Malik did something that brought the audience to tears. He embraced Mitchell's father and told him that he was loved. Malik understands what Mitchell and his family are going through. When he was only 7 years old, he lost his dad after a heart attack.

The crowd gave Mitchell and Malik a standing ovation, because both are star athletes.