From the Heart

 Today’s blog post was written by Phoenix Harris, a senior at the University of Notre Dame. Phoenix is a Film, Television, and Theatre major and a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching, a course taught by Play Like a Champion Today directors Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan.

Last week, two Minnesota high school wrestlers sent the Internet into frenzy. Both Mitchell McKee and Malik Stewart are considered the top competitors in their division, and were competing for the 120-pound state title at a Class 3A tournament on behalf of their high schools. One minute and 22 seconds into their match, McKee had Stewart pinned on the mat.

While the competition may have been short, the aftermath will definitely be remembered for years to come.

 

Despite being defeated, Stewart got up from the mat, hugged McKee, and then went over to the crowd and hugged Mr. McKee – Mitchell’s father who is suffering from cancer. “He won and I knew he was pretty proud and his dad was pretty proud so I went over there and shook his hand and embraced him a little bit. I told him to stay strong and that everybody loves him,” says Stewart.  

Prior to the state-title match, McKee had told the media he wanted to win the title for his father, that they’d both fought hard to get to this point today and he wanted him to be able to see him get the victory. Stewart said he knew McKee was a great competitor and that he’d have to be on his game to defeat him.

Even though he was unable to, he still showed characteristics of victory in another sense by embracing McKee’s father.

Those watching were moved to tears and a standing ovation. The most surprised was the new state title-holder himself. “It was a big match for him and to be able to hug my dad like that, and not be mad and storm off like a lot of kids do,” said McKee. “Really respectful.”

Stewart’s coach, Josh Prokosh, is quick to point out that the incident was all Stewart’s doing. “He took that upon himself to run over,” Prokosh says. “He knew Mitchell’s father was over there and he ran over, gave him a hug, and congratulated him.”  But Stewart is quick to explain that his actions had nothing to do with him, “I heard a couple people as I did it say, ‘that was pretty classy.’ But I just did it straight from the heart.” Stewart's father passed away when he was just seven-years old from a heart attack. Not only did the two boys share commonality in competing for the state title, but they both also understood what it would mean for their families.

The truth is, sports can be much more than recreation. Sports can be a tool used to help a person grow or get a family through a hard time.  At its worse state sporting events can be an excuse to glorify winning in spite of what it takes to get there.

At a time when the media glamorizes the ruthlessness and unforgiving competitive nature of even the youngest athletes (think Esquire Network's Friday Night Tykes or Lifetime's Dance Moms) it is refreshing to see an example of healthy and positive competition in sports. McKee was right, many kids are taught that winning is everything. Many kids storm off the field, or the mat, after a loss and forget about sportsmanship altogether. Stewart’s ability to see the bigger picture despite losing what he’d been working all year for is impressive, respectful, and inspiring.

Almost as surprising as Stewart’s maturity, was the speed at which his and McKee’s story hit the Internet. Within hours, thousands upon thousands of social media users had shared it. All were praising the boys’ actions and sending well wishes to McKee and his father. In a way, Stewart’s actions were able to create an enormous pool of support for the McKee family as they go through this trying time.

Both Mitchell McKee and Malik Stewart are only sophomores in high school wrestling, but they show compassion and sportsmanship well beyond their years. Even though only one of them won the state title, I would argue that there were two, if not three winners after this state match – Malik, Mitchell, AND Mr. McKee.