Kids Today

The video is a news story about the the Minnesota Class 3A state high school wrestling championship, which took place over the weekend. Specifically, it's about the 120-pound division finale between Mitchell McKee, a young white teenager, and Malik Stewart, a young black teenager.

A female reporter says in voiceover, over images of McKee's family and then McKee at practice: "When Mitchell McKee learned there was no match for his dad's cancer, he practiced and prayed."

McKee, onscreen: "Before every match, I just said, 'God, help me win this match.' You know, so I can go win a state title for my dad."

Reporter, in voiceover, over images of wrestling: "The St. Michael Albertville sophomore found himself on the brink of that dream this weekend, at the 120-pound state championship, at the Xcel Energy Center, facing a well-known opponent." Video of Stewart at his school locker. "Malik Stewart, a sophomore from Blaine."

Stewart, onscreen: "I knew I'd have to wrestle a little bit better, but..."

Reporter, in voiceover, over images of the boys wrestling: "But a little more than a minute in—"

McKee, onscreen: "I pinned him."

Reporter, in voiceover, over images of the boys wrestling: "—Mitchell locked Malik to the mat."

Stewart, onscreen: "He won, and I knew he was pretty proud, and I knew his dad was pretty proud, so I went over there and I shook his hand, embraced him a little bit, told him to stay strong, you know, and that everybody loves him."

Reporter, in voiceover, over images from after the match: "Losing the state title, Malik could have walked away, but what he did next not only stunned his coach, but the arena."

Stewart's coach, a young white man, onscreen: "He took that upon himself to run over; he knew, you know, Mitchell's father was over there, and he ran over and gave him a hug, congratulated him."

Stewart, in voiceover, over images of Stewart warmly greeting McKee's father in the crowd: "The crowd went wild; I heard a couple people as I did it say, uh, that was pretty classy, you know, but I just did it straight from the heart."

Reporter, in voiceover, over images of McKee hugging his dad: "When it was was Mitchell's turn to hug his dad—"

McKee, in voiceover: "Everything you've been wanting to happen all year just, you know, comes together in one moment."

Reporter, in voiceover: "—Malik understood."

Stewart, onscreen: "I went through the same thing when I was younger, but my dad didn't pass by cancer. It was by a heart attack, so. I know what he's going through."

McKee, onscreen: "It was a really big match for him to be able to go over and hug my dad like that, and not be mad and storm off the mat, like, you know, a lot of kids do."

Reporter, in voiceover, over more images from the match: "Two opponents bound by a greater loss, and the strategy of heart—"

Stewart, in voiceover: "I thought it was the right thing to do."

Reporter, in voiceover: "—made more than one champion that day."
[Via Brandon.]

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