Deven Schuko, a wrestler and a great human being, is being applauded for giving his opponent the victory. Schuko, who was undefeated, let Andy Howland, a teenage wrestler with Down syndrome win and have a moment in the spotlight.
Deven Schuko, a wrestler and a kind young man from Massachusetts, is making headlines for a beautiful gesture he made towards another student. Over the weekend, friends, family members, and students gathered at Norton High School in Norton, Massachusetts for a wrestling match.
Deven Schuko is the captain of the Norton High School wrestling team, he is 27-0 this year, and he recently earned his 100th career victory. Andy Howland, a Dighton-Rehoboth High School wrestler with Down syndrome, who loves to smile, was brave enough to challenge Schuko, and he accepted. Schuko said:
“He wanted a match, and I wanted to tangle with him.”
Schuko, the undefeated captain, faced off the student with special needs and gave his opponent a victory he will never forget. The local high school wrestling match was filmed, and the video is going viral, and thousands of people are praising the athlete with a big heart.
Dighton-Rehoboth High School Athletic Director Doug Kelley said after the match:
“When you get a story like this, and a fine young man like Deven can step up and wrestle our Andy Howland, you know, he’s in for a tussle.”
Norton wrestling coach Pat Coleman added:
“Deven Schuko, he’s a class act. Deven has a natural respect for any wrestler, such as Andy, and I think Deven just proved there that it’s never wrong to do the right thing,”
Schuko, who is also a Lancer co-captain, explained that when Howland came looking to compete, he did not hesitate, and he was happy to have his perfect record demolished by him. Schuko said:
“He threw in a good move. He was strong. He’s a tough kid. If I had to lose to someone, I’d like to lose to Andy. It was a win-win in my book. He won, I won.”
He added:
“It’s humbling I guess and pretty cool for all the attention for a simple act of kindness.”
Howland, who has been competing for over seven years, says he fights with a smile because Jesus Christ is always with him.
What are your thoughts on wrestler Deven Schuko’s sportsmanship?
Clean win Andy; Deven, not your day, or maybe it is a WIN-WIN 😉 Could go the other way in a rematch, both fine wrestlers, good for the sport.
Give both these fine young men scholarships!
There are many many fine young people. I wish we could get more stories about these good youngsters.
Good ! Very Good. There are things more important than records !
Deven is a hell of a great kid – he’ll be a great man. His parents should be proud of him.
Andy is an inspiration.
Awesome! Very Fine Young Men They Have There. The World Needs More of Them! God Bless Them All!
Both these boys show what it takes to be a champion. It is never measured with wins and losses. Winning is a consequence of their champion spirit.
“Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vision.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Sometimes you can be a champion even when you lose.