Wrestler who lost title hugs opponent's sick dad

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

St. Paul, Minn. • A Minnesota high school wrestler in the Class 3A state tournament did something the crowd didn't expect when he lost his title match earlier this month.

Instead of getting upset, Malik Stewart went over to his opponent's dad — who is dying of cancer — and gave him a hug. Stewart tells KARE-TV (http://kare11.tv/1hRV0WM) that he told Mitchell McKee's father to stay strong.

Stewart lost his own father when he was 7, and he says the hug was an act straight from the heart.

Stewart is a sophomore at Blaine; McKee is a sophomore at St. Michael Albertville. They met in the 120 pound title match March 1.

McKee's father only has a few months to live.

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Information from: KARE-TV, http://www.kare11.com