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Police have launched an investigation into an Illinois youth wrestling match that got ugly after a wrestler suckerpunched his opponent after losing.
During the "Beat The Streets" tournament on April 8 at Oak Park River Forest High School in Oak Park, Ill., Hafid Alicea of Maine West High School was defeated by Cooper Corder of SPAR Wrestling Academy. The final match score was 14-2.
As is custom in wrestling, the referee invited the two wrestlers to the center of the mat to shake hands and announce Corder as the winner.
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Gable Steveson of the Minnesota Golden Gophers leaves his shoes on the mat following his win over Cohlton Schultz of the Arizona State Sun Devils in the 285-pound final match during the Division I Mens Wrestling Championship held at Little Caesars Arena on March 19, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
However, things took a turn when Alicea went to shake Corder’s hand, but instead punched him square in the face, sending him down to the canvas.
Parents immediately rushed onto the mat and were not happy for obvious reasons. The referee made sure nothing escalated as the parents began screaming in the direction of Alicea.
Corder reportedly suffered a broken nose from the punch, per TMZ Sports, and will not have to wear a special face mask in upcoming events.
"He is making the best of the situation and is already back to training," SPAR Academy founder Justin Pearch told TMZ Sports on Tuesday.
Gable Steveson of the Minnesota Golden Gophers leaves his shoes on the mat following his win over Cohlton Schultz of the Arizona State Sun Devils in the 285-pound final match during the Division I Mens Wrestling Championship held at Little Caesars Arena on March 19, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Jay LaPrete/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
"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.
"It’s not tolerated in our sport and Spar Wrestling will never condone that behavior."
Spenser Mango's shoes are seen on the mat in retirement after losing his Greco-Roman 59kg semifinal match to Jesse Thielke during day 1 of the Olympic Team Wrestling Trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on April 9, 2016 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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A spokesperson for the Oak Park Police Dept. told TMZ Sports on Tuesday that parents of the two minors are cooperating with the investigation.
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