After Losing Title Match, Teen Wrestler Surprises Opponent With Loving Gesture (VIDEO)

By Eric Corpus, Monday, March 10, 2014

If Malik Stewart had stalked off the mat in anger, no one would have blamed him. The sophomore from Blaine High School near St. Paul, Minn. had just lost the state title in wrestling at 120 lbs to St. Michael Albertville sophomore Mitchell McKee. While both teens were amped to compete, McKee had special inspiration going into the match: His father Steve has terminal cancer with doctors giving him a few months to live.

After Mitchell pinned him, Malik didn't head to the locker room to sulk on his loss. He instead congratulated his opponent and his coaches, and then approached Mitchell's father in the stands and gave him a hug. Malik knows what it's like to lose a dad: His died from a heart attack years before.

For Malik, it was a spur-of-the-moment gesture between two sons who carry the same heartache.

"I got a little teary because I lost the match, and I knew the hard times he was going through. 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," Malik said to KARE 11.