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We Dare You Not to Get a Little Emotional Watching This 7th Grade Wrestling Vid

Dec. 5, 2012 10:39am
7th Grade Wrestling Match With Disabled Boy Goes Viral | Justin Kievit, Jared Stevens

(Photo: Facebook)

A heartwarming video of a 7th grade wrestling match in Tennessee has gone viral on the Internet, with more than 100,000 “shares” on Facebook since being uploaded roughly one week ago.

The video shows Jared Stevens, described by the Tennessean as “an extrovert with cerebral palsy,” and his opponent Justin Kievit, in an usual pairing.

Stevens, who reportedly has the physical abilities of a 6-month-old but an intellectual ability close to his age level, is laid on the ground, unable to stand on his own.  Kievit bends down to shake his outstretched hand, and begins fake wrestling with Stevens as the match begins.  As the crowd cheers, Kievit pulls Stevens’ arm over himself, struggling all the while, and allows a beaming Stevens to win the match.

The Huffington Post has more on how it all happened:

“Jared just likes to do stuff like everybody else,” [his father] told the Franklin Home Page. “There’s a limit to what he can do, but something like wrestling, he can do that as much as he can do. He just enjoys being out there participating. He doesn’t mind trying anything.”

Clay Mayes, Jared’s wrestling coach, said that the 13-year-old practices with his school’s wrestling team every day.

When Jared expressed that he wanted to participate in a wrestling match, Mayes said he called his friend Randy Stevens (no relation), a coach at another middle school.

“It wasn’t about weight class,” Mayes told the Tennessean. “I told him to point me toward the kid who has the kindest heart.”

Here’s the video:

The Tennessean interviewed other boys from the team, who said that Stevens cheers them on at every match.  Kievit is the team’s captain– a rare accomplishment for a 7th grader.

The Tennessean continues:

“I was a little nervous,” says Justin [Kievit], who had no idea how many shares the video had until a Tennessean reporter told him. “Then I kind of figured out what to do.”

“It’s a little overwhelming to say the least,” says Craig Kievit, who thought just friends and family might look at the video.

“I watched it over and over again,” he says.

Stevens’ father is an engineer, and says he always tries to fashion ways for his son to try new things.  He’s even gone ziplining with the Boy Scouts.

“Made me tear up,” one commenter wrote.  “Can you imagine what that meant to the boy and his family?!”  Others wrote how proud they were of both young men.

Here’s the Tennessean’s insider look at the wrestling team, and Stevens’ role:

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Comments (155)

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  • chingachgook
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:41pm

    I had written a big explanation of how foolish this was but deleted it and just have to say this is not right. for about ten reasons and if you do not see it I can not explain it to you.

    Report this comment

    chingachgook  
  • OccamsGun
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:48pm

    Yes there are very heart warming aspects to this story and, as one person said, if it brought Jared a rare sense of accomplishment then who am I to say it is wrong. However, the people writing the negative comments have a valid point, even if many of them made it badly. And the people responding so harshly to them are being overly politically correct.

    I love music but I’m not a musician. I’ve attempted to learn to play several instrument and always failed. And the failure isn’t due to lack of effort but, instead, lack of ability. I do not deserve to be put on stage with a violin to ‘appear’ to play a concert with the National Symphony Orchestra just because it is something I want to do?

    Jared has been dealt a bad hand in life and I doubt if I could bear such a burden myself. My heart and my prayers go out to him. However, he needs to focus on the abilities he has (I’m thinking Christy Brown or Stephen Hawking here) and try to gain pleasure developing what abilities he has rather than live a false dream.

    People who are blind should not expect to paint, people who are paralyzed should not expect to dance, and I should not expect to be a concert violinist.

    Report this comment

    OccamsGun  
    • Finger Follie
      Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:25pm

      Like minded people complaining about this story are the biggest problem this country has. It isn’t the Dems doing this or the Reps doing that, it is you people. You know, the ones that have to find fault in everything anyone does. The ones that are offended at anything and everything. The ones that have to take life a 100% serious all the time. All this story was one kid doing something nice for another. Imagine if more of you were nicer to each other and not worried about if someone is offended about it. I do things to help out people with this or that at different times. I wonder how many of you people would find fault with me. Lighten up. Seriously. You don’t need to be offended or angry every time someone tries to be nice. No wonder nearly everyone thinks of themselves first anymore.

      Report this comment

      Finger Follie  
  • USA-Ron
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:31am

    Proud of you Jared, have fun in all you do

    Report this comment

    USA-Ron  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:11am

    C’mon people. lighten up. It was just playing. It wasn’t the state championships. So the kid took a dive. He did it to give the handicapped kid a thrill. That’s sportsmanship and I’m sure it isn’t changing any outcomes. The handicapped kid works his butt off too for the team too. read the story..

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • GlintoftheScythe
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:39am

    There were some great post here a few minutes ago. Looks like the Gestapo got to them. Nice

    Report this comment

    GlintoftheScythe  
  • GlintoftheScythe
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:52am

    This is disturbingly bizarre. Lets have faceless accident victims be makeup models too. Simply sick!

    Report this comment

    GlintoftheScythe  
  • Rational Man
    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:05am

    If everyone concerned is happy, I guess that’s fine. But I think it’s weird. God bless the boys, their parents and the ones who go the extra mile for Jared.

    Report this comment

    Rational Man  
  • rickc34
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 11:19pm

    Wow reading some of the comments hear wow.I. was thinking Jesus probably smiled at this fake match him knowing the hearts of those involved and all. According to some of you maybe I should have minded my own business way back in school and not stand up for the weaker kids and let the bullies beat on them so they could experience their own limitations, would have kept me out of trouble both at school and home. These are 2 kids in the 7th grade one can and the other can’t but they had a moment were they both learned about grace. I bet tears flowed that night.maybe some of you adults could learn a lesson from these kids. One day in Heaven there will be no cripples or illness but until then show compassion and quit being bullies.

    Report this comment

    rickc34  
  • Nemo63
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 11:13pm

    Really? People are blasting this video??? What the hell was the non-hadicapped wrestler supposed to do? Put yourself in his size 6 wrestling shoes for a minute! Frankly, this rates about Z-700 on my worry meter. Just like the atheists, always gotta have something to bitch about!

    Report this comment

    Nemo63  
  • roadmaster
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 10:30pm

    Emotional? I think I’m going to be sick! How is this any different from a kid’s baseball game where you don’t keep score, nobody wins or loses, everybody gets a trophy and then all go for pizza. What does that teach your kid – that hard work and achievement are overrated? Why try hard to earn anything when it’s just going to be handed to you anyway? Ever been around any kids raised with this attitude? They never learn about real life and are completely unable to deal with it’s ups and downs. And some end up like Jared Loughner, administering 9mm lobotomies in Safeway parking lots.

    Report this comment

    roadmaster  
  • Yakov-Yurovsky
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 10:10pm

    I personally think it’s nice that private parties can come together and have a special event without the governments involvement. Who knows, maybe next time the kid that won will be put in a choke hold and be forced to submit!

    Ya, I don’t know all the rules in wrestling!

    Report this comment

    Yakov-Yurovsky  
  • twistin
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 8:48pm

    There is so much heartlessness among our youth these days, it is definitely encouraging to see somebody just Trying to be good. Whether or not you, or me, would appreciate this is a moot point.

    In an “Inner City” school, you know, with “Urban Values”, this poor kid wouldn’t last til lunchtime.

    Report this comment

    twistin  
  • buggirl
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 8:44pm

    Guys! They were playing. It’s something that kids do. The boy’s smile at the end says it all. Just let him have a taste so he can daydream about it later. Have none of you ever used your imagination? Now he has the real feel to add to the things he must imagine while being stuck in his chair. I don’t think it has anything to do with his father’s ambitions for him. Please. His dad just wanted to enrich his life. Shame on you for making it about winning or losing. Yes there are winners and losers, but in some cases we just play because it is fun.

    Report this comment

    buggirl  
  • cnchess
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 7:43pm

    I am not upset at the young man who threw the match. But I am enraged by the parents of the boy with cerebral palsy and the school officials who let him go out there and lay on the floor begging the other wrestler not to kill him. Wrestling is a tough, physical sport. But to do it, you must stand toe to toe with your opponent and do your best to get him on his back. You don’t get carried out to the mat, placed in the fetal position on the ground and beg the other wrestler not to hurt you. So, we have tough the young man with the disease that he can do anything… when he can’t and we have taught the healthy young man to collapse when confronted with weakness. Both are lessons on losing.
    By the way, I did not get emotional watching this travesty; I got angry.

    Report this comment

    cnchess  
  • csehlmeyer
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 6:12pm

    Between now and New Years Day this is all I want to watch. Everything else just stinks! You hear me, it stinks, stinks, stinks!!!

    Report this comment

    csehlmeyer  
  • sophiepaul
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:40pm

    Sometimes believing is all it takes.
    http://bit.ly/YPGaZm

    Report this comment

    sophiepaul  
  • conmil
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:38pm

    A typical pathetic liberal display of achievement. Diswgusting. Like they did in Atlanta making a lifelong black welfare mother the head of the Metro Atlanta Regional transportation (MARTA) board. Totally incompetant, totally absurd, totally liberal. Of course, NARTA is almost bankrupt.

    Report this comment

    conmil  
  • jhoucek
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:34pm

    I am shocked at the hate here. I agree that there are winners and losers of course, but first of all this is a 7th grader who is probably very aware of his disability. What ever happened to Mercy. If we teach people there are winners and losers without teaching them a little mercy, love, and charity then what kind of nation will we have? One full of Pride. This 7th grader (with the disability) knows what happened here, just because he has a physical disability does not mean he is dumb. I think all people should have an opportunity to give and feel as this wrestler felt when he showed love and charity to someone of lesser ability. I am a capitalist, but this feed has made me wonder can we go too far to that end of the spectrum too, where we feel absolutely no empathy for others?

    Report this comment

    jhoucek  
  • Pixr
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:11pm

    This is no different than when I let my little kid win at board games or running
    a race or bowling ect… of course I could had beaten her in all the fun things
    we did as she was growing up but thats not the point. it was seeing her smile
    and watching her enjoy the moment that counted, I will always remember the
    happy times for that is just what they are. just moments in a short life time and
    and if all you trolls out there who cannot find joy in a single moment of happiness
    in yours or any ones life adventures, should just shut up. and quit spouting your
    stupid opinions. and find a new hobby other than sitting on this any other sites
    preaching your hate. This was just plain fun with out winning involved. life is not
    about keeping score you dumb fools. they are just kids having fun. you bunch of
    losers, Karma is a bitch and your hate will come back to you all 10 times over
    and to the kid who let him play, I know you will become a great man someday
    because you already have more character than most of the haters on this site
    Bless you for your kindness to this boy.

    Report this comment

    Pixr  
    • jhoucek
      Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:38pm

      Not to mention that letting children win sometimes (at family games, bowling, etc gives them a sense of accomplishment and encourages them to want to play more often. I think it is important for children to know how to lose too, but if they lose all the time they will not even want to play.

      Report this comment

      jhoucek  
    • GlintoftheScythe
      Posted on December 6, 2012 at 12:57am

      Yep, disagree with a fool and you’re a “troll”.

      Report this comment

      GlintoftheScythe  
  • eacobb
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 5:07pm

    Looks like Justin got his butt kicked. Seriously, this is sure a wonderful diversion from all the terrible things going on in this world.

    Report this comment

    eacobb  
  • Coyote6
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 4:58pm

    The video reminds me of the GOP vs. the Dems. Unable to enunciate a cogent thought, unable to move or do anything useful, the Dems show up to the contest and lay there like a damp rag. Then the Republicans come in and pull the Dems over themselves like a blanket and allow themselves to be pinned without putting up a fight.

    Report this comment

    Coyote6  
  • freedomofspeech
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 4:36pm

    And some say the disable person has nothing to give to society, I stand to argue.

    Report this comment

    freedomofspeech  
  • eramthgin
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 4:34pm

    Now that is sportsmanship at its finest.

    Report this comment

    eramthgin  
  • Soul Leister
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 4:31pm

    Sadly, it is not inspirational… it is theater of the absurd. Obviously, the majority of the population (hopelessly, reside in the middle of the bell curve/trough) is doomed to be spectators for the extremes on the elitist edge and those that will never be average… like Pavlov’s dogs the majority are expected to jump and/or shed a tear on command (least you be considered an evil SOB)… we are reduced to being recipients of participation recognition awards (check that block of the affirmative action generation) instead of being recongnized for excellence… better to hunker down and pretend to “ew and ah” your way through life… muddle about as you are told, everybody is the same (look around, and wake up… everybody is not the same… and wishfull thinking will not change how tall you are or how smart you are not. If all things were equal then there would only be two or three black men on a basket ball team (they are after all less than 12% of the male population… one in eight males in the country)… but we have very few whites that want to run back and forth night after night, or so it would seem. I noticed the all girl cheerleaders didn’t invite any of the handi-capable girls (or boys) to join their squad… maybe for a photo op (that momentary feel good moment, so they could check that box, been there done that… which one do we check next?).

    Report this comment

    Soul Leister  
    • roadmaster
      Posted on December 5, 2012 at 10:40pm

      Exactly, Soul. I remember when my Dad stopped giving me $5 to get on the Honor Roll. I’ll never forget his reasoning, My brothers and sister worked very hard but could barely get C’s, so it wasn’t “fair” I got paid for doing something which was easy for me but out of reach for them. From then on, IF I didn’t make the Honor Roll, I was in trouble, and If my siblings managed to pass they got a slap on the back.

      Report this comment

      roadmaster  
    • GlintoftheScythe
      Posted on December 6, 2012 at 1:01am

      Well said.

      Report this comment

      GlintoftheScythe  
  • rexriley
    Posted on December 5, 2012 at 4:21pm

    I’m underwhelmed with this video–unless our aim is to teach kids how to feel and act like Liberals. Maybe it takes more courage these days to work hard, succeed, and not feel so damn guilty about it.

    Report this comment

    rexriley  
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