A horrific video captured a youth wrestler sucker-punching his opponent after a match.
The incident took place in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, during a third-place 125-128 pound match at the 2023 Beat the Streets Developmental freestyle tournament.
Cooper Corder of Chicago’s SPAR Wrestling Academy, wearing an orange singlet, won the match over Maine West High School’s Hafid Alicea (in blue) by a 14-2 score between the eighth graders.
As Corder went in for a post-match handshake, he was cold-cocked by Alicea, sending him to the mat, reports the New York Post.
Alicea appeared to be getting escorted away as those in attendance reacted with shock.
Corder suffered a nose injury and is now wearing a face mask during his matches, website TMZ reported.
“He is making the best of the situation and is already back to training,” SPAR Academy founder Justin Pearch told TMZ Sports.
“As you may know, wrestling matches can get heated but nothing leading up to the punch would give cause to such bad decision-making on the opponent’s part.
It’s not tolerated in our sport and SPAR Wrestling will never condone that behaviour.”
Oak Park Police Department is reportedly investigating the incident.
This story appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.
