High school wrestler with Down syndrome wins first match

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Wrestling manager with Down syndrome wins first-ever match

Raw video: High school athlete who lost chance at reaching Nebraska state tournament offers to wrestle rival team's manager in sporting act of kindness caught on camera.

A high school student with Down syndrome won his very first wrestling match this past weekend in Seward, Nebraska. The spontaneous competition between Grant Fehlhafer, a freshman who practices with his team but does not compete, and a senior from another school is going viral on social media.

High school freshman wins his first wrestling tournament over the weekend in Seward, Nebraska. (Courtesy: Caroline Schwehr Fehlhafer)

According to Live Well Nebraska, Austin Middleton, a senior at Ralston High, noticed the freshman wrestler with Down syndrome was anxious to compete.

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In less than a minute, Grant Fehlhafer pinned his competitor, senior Austin Middleton. (Caroline Schwehr Fehlhafer)

Grant’s mom, Caroline Fehlhafer, said in a Facebook post that Austin showed real sportsmanship toward her son, who acts as the team's manager.

“Today at district wrestling a young man, Austin Middleton, Ralston, [showed] true character. He had just lost his match and his chances of going to state. Instead of focusing on himself, He saw a boy walking around in his singlet. He took initiative and asked the Seward coach if Grant wanted to wrestle. They got a referee and Grant got to wrestling in his first match. Wrestling is usually judged by it wins and losses today it about character. We are thankful for the Seward wrestling team and the Ralston wrestling team.”

Grant's mother, Caroline Fehlhafer said, "That was a very big moment for my son. Everyone in the room knew what that meant." (Caroline Schwehr Fehlhafer)

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After the two athletes started with a handshake, they began to grapple, and in thirty seconds, Grant had Austin on his back. The referee hit the mat, and Grant had recorded a pin.

“Today at district wrestling a young man, Austin Middleton, showed true character," wrote Caroline Fehlhafer. (Caroline Schwehr Fehlhafer)

“That was a very big moment for (my son). Everyone in that room knew what that meant. It meant he was embraced for who he was — a wrestler,” Grant’s mother told Live Well Nebraska.