12-Year-Old 'Throws' Wrestling Match So Boy With Cerebral Palsy Can Win

**PizDoff** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 2:42am

Middle school wrestler lets boy with cerebral palsy win match

Justin Kievit, a middle-school wrestler from Tennessee, showed off his sportsmanship when he matched up against Jared Stevens, who has cerebral palsy.

The match, which was taped and posted to Facebook by Kievit's father and to YouTube by Stevens' dad, begins with Stevens being gently laid down on the wrestling mat by a coach. Once the match begins, Kievit maneuvers around Stevens in a low crouch. Kievit then gets down on the mat and slides underneath Stevens so Stevens can pin him. The crowd went wild for Stevens' win and Kievit's heart.

According to Kievit's father, the act wasn't planned. The proud dad remarked to Franklin Home Page: "The first time he met Jared was when he shook hands with him before the match. So it really was spontaneous. They just picked this kid. If you watch the video, he just did an amazing job. There's not many adults comfortable putting hands on a disabled kid, much less another 13-year-old."

This was Jared's first wresting match. "I think a lot of people are scared to put kids like me on the mat, but they don't need to be," Jared told his local paper. Jared's father explained that while his son has roughly the physical capacity of a six-month-old, he is close to his age level intellectually.

"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."
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/looko...222254658.html

**PizDoff** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 2:43am

The dad actually yells "Choke him out!"

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 3:26am

Sensei Kreese: "We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak."

**Azatdawn** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 3:48am

Thinking this through a few times, I think it was a very cool thing to do.

**erezb** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 4:00am

I think it was a weird and unnecessary show. If the disabled kid is able minded i can't see how this gives him any real satisfaction other than being the center of attention.

**Azatdawn** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 5:40am

Originally Posted by erezb

I think it was a weird and unnecessary show. If the disabled kid is able minded i can't see how this gives him any real satisfaction other than being the center of attention.

Maybe he thought it was fun? Some diversion from living with cerebral palsy? Maybe it's something he loves to do despite knowing that there are obvious limits to what he can do, pretty much like you posting here?

**Tonuzaba** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 6:01am

Chill, Azatdawn.

Yes, it was really cool of Justin to let Jared "win".

The question is if that needs to be done to look like a match, instead of "just" happening on a training.

I don´t know the background of the event, maybe it was a special venue for connection between disabled and not disabled kids, which would be cool. The article doesn´t state that, instead it says this was Justins first wrestling match...

I don´t think erezb is against kids like Jared having fun, but the circumstances and publicity can and always will be subject of debate.

**erezb** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 7:14am

Originally Posted by Azatdawn

Maybe he thought it was fun? Some diversion from living with cerebral palsy? Maybe it's something he loves to do despite knowing that there are obvious limits to what he can do, pretty much like you posting here?

Ha? calm down . This was a farce just like your postings. He is a kid, he decides nothing, it is all on his dad whether you think it is good or bad. You have no idea if he enjoys wrestling or not, you can only assume. As Tonuzaba pointed, they can roll in practice and without cameras and the additional drama.
Also, they say the healthy boys behavior was spontaneous...wow, so he didn't smash a paralyzed kid. Ever stopped thinking maybe the kids didn't feel so comfortable with this farce? I'm just saying though this is a tear squeezing moment, unless it is intended in raising awareness and donation for research .. i can't see any real good coming from this farce.
It is also extremely condescending towards the disabled kid, and towards the other one too. He is 12 ffs, off course he will let him win and be gentle with him.

**Tom .C** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 7:49am

That was a big win for both kids. A healthy mind trapped in a frail body would welcome any activity most people take for granted. I have witnessed faces of these kids "swimming", riding horses, and helped to play on gymnastics equipment, and these chances to feel what it would be like to enjoy these activities mean the word to these kids. It also means the world to their families and the people who help to make this happen. There was a lot more "win" here than smashing the **** out of a handicapped kid would have provided.

**Devil** · Posted On: 12/07/2012 8:57am

That was fucking disgusting. Why would the parent of the kid with cerebral palsy turn him into the center of a freak show like that? There's no dignity in that. The kid can't even move. It's just ridiculous.

And why would the parent of the other boy let him do that? If someone tried to get my son to do that I'd tell them to **** off and find another kid for their warped Hallmark moment.