I’ve edited the article to only include the wrestling story; to read the other uplifting stories of good Samaritans and all-around good folks, click here: http://www.americanprofile.com/issues/20041219/20041219_4358.asp
Acts of Kindness
by Vicki Brown
American Profile gets hundreds of letters from readers each year describing the generous acts of friends, neighbors and anonymous individuals. This year, readers once again nominated Good Samaritans whose selfless deeds renew one’s faith in humanity.
And, the winner is . . .
Brandon Teel’s selflessness in allowing Trevor Howe, a Lincoln (Neb.) East High School wrestler with Down Syndrome, to pin him at a high school wrestling match last year attracted plenty of attention, including that of Robert McTygue of Overton, Neb. (pop. 646), who wrote to praise the youth even though he didn’t know him.
Howe’s coach said the 15-year-old with the genetic disorder loves wrestling but struggles with coordination difficulties and cannot safely compete in just any match. So Marty McCurdy asked fellow coaches at Kearney (Neb.) High School if someone could wrestle Howe.
Teel agreed to keep the match going for three periods, then pin Howe.
“All of a sudden instead of pinning Trevor, he let Trevor turn him over and pin him. He did that on his own,” McCurdy says.
Teel says he knew it would mean a lot to Howe to pin him.
“I knew it was the right thing to do,” Teel says, adding that he’s been amazed at the media attention that the match has received.
McCurdy also praises another teenager, Casey Dahlke, captain of Lincoln Southwest’s wrestling team. “I spoke with Trevor’s mother, and we thought he needed to understand it wasn’t all easy,” McCurdy says. So a few weeks after Howe’s match with Teel, Dahlke wrestled him and pinned him.
“I think that was even harder,” McCurdy says.
Wrestling Gear
