A shocking video has gone viral on social media, showing a youth wrestler from Illinois sucker-punching his opponent after losing a match. The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from the wrestling community and beyond.
The video was captured during the “Beat The Streets” tournament on April 8 at Oak Park River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois. The match was for the third-place 125-128 pound division between two eighth graders: Hafid Alicea of Maine West High School and Cooper Corder of SPAR Wrestling Academy.
According to the scorecard, Corder dominated the match and won by a 14-2 margin. As per the wrestling etiquette, the referee called both wrestlers to the center of the mat to shake hands and declare Corder as the winner. However, Alicea had other plans.
Instead of shaking Corder’s hand, Alicea threw a vicious punch at his face, knocking him down to the mat. The crowd erupted in anger and disbelief, as parents and coaches rushed to intervene. The referee tried to calm down the situation and escort Alicea away from the scene.
Unsportsmanlike conduct‼️ Cooper Corder (SPAR Wrestling Academy) defeated Hafid Alicea (Maine West High School) during the "Beat The Streets" tournament wrestling at Oak Park River Forest High School in Oak Park, Ill. After the match, Alicea sucker punched Corder, knocking him… pic.twitter.com/J7hAYY1qVP
— DeL2000 (@DeL2000) April 19, 2023
Corder reportedly suffered a broken nose from the punch and had to wear a special face mask for his subsequent matches. He is said to be recovering well and continuing his training.
The Oak Park Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident and is working with the parents of both minors. No charges have been filed yet.
The founder of SPAR Wrestling Academy, Justin Pearch, told TMZ Sports that he does not condone Alicea’s behavior and that it is not tolerated in their sport.
“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,” Pearch said. “It’s not tolerated in our sport and Spar Wrestling will never condone that behavior.”
The video has sparked a debate on social media about sportsmanship, discipline and violence in youth sports. Some users have expressed sympathy for Corder and praised his composure after being attacked. Others have criticized Alicea for his lack of respect and maturity. Some have also questioned the role of parents and coaches in teaching young athletes how to handle defeat gracefully.
