After losing a state title, a Minnesota teen showed character beyond his years with one kind act.
Mitchell McKee and Malik Stewart were competing for a Minnesota high school state wrestling championship.
After a hard-fought match, McKee won. Stewart was left with second place and no doubt, considerable disappointment.
Most athletes prove their sportsmanship by uttering a quick “Good job” and a handshake before heading off to the locker room. Stewart could have easily done that but he was struck by another feeling. It was a feeling of compassion.
Stewart, who had lost his father as a young boy, knew that McKee’s father was struggling with cancer. It was a fight that was not going well. So after the match was over and the two young men shook hands, Stewart did not head off. He headed over to McKee’s father and shook his hand. The two hugged, and Stewart offered some words of encouragement by telling the man to “stay strong” and that everybody loves him.
The younger McKee was overwhelmed by the action. He told KARE-TV, “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 — really respectful.”
The crowd showed their admiration for both young athletes with a standing ovation.
The writers at liftable.com, where this story appeared say all of us could learn something from Stewart who helped us to remember that there are greater things at work in this world.