Competitor surprises autistic wrestler with his silver medal after their meet
Wrestler Chris North of Northwest High (Justin, Texas) didn't know Wakeland's (Frisco, Texas) Alex Chappell until Tuesday night, when the two wrestling teams from 45 miles apart sat side-by-side at a tournament on Tuesday.
Now, they're forever linked by a silver medal that North won and gave to Chappell in the meet's aftermath. Their story is detailed by the Dallas-Fort Worth area FOX affiliate.
Diagnosed with severe autism at 8 years old, Chappell was about to wrestle outside the Special Olympics for only the second time as a member of Wakeland's junior varsity team. Only he couldn't find his name on the bracket. So, Chappell asked North for help, and the stranger obliged.
"I asked him how he did [in his first meet]," North told MyFoxDFW.com, "and he said he lost out 0-2, and he was really bummed. He was just sitting there playing with some cups by himself." Meanwhile, North finished 4-0 on the afternoon and earned a silver medal.
And here's where I challenge you not to get choked up. North walked around the gym, found Chappell and placed the medal around his new friend's neck. "I won this for you, buddy," North told him, keeping the good deed to himself until Chappell's mother Sharon Sagura reportedly heard the random act of kindness in an email from her son's coach.
"He tries so hard to be accepted," Sagura told the FOX affiliate through tears, "and for this kid to see him as a person, and not for his disability, makes me so proud."
Added the selfless North: "He looked like a winner. He looked like a really nice kid who deserved a medal, and he deserved to feel like he won." Good times all around.
- - - - - - -
is a contributor for Prep Rally on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at preprallyblog@yahoo.com or follow Prep Rally on Twitter!
