KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A high school football player in Michigan is facing consequences after a viral video showed him body slamming an opposing team member, injuring him.
The junior varsity football game happened on Thursday, Sept. 18. The video showed a Kalamazoo Central player tackling a Lakeshore player, then getting up and jumping on top of him while he was lying on the ground.
The video quickly spread all over social media the days following the game.
According to the mother of the injured Lakeshore player, he has two broken vertebrae in his lower spine as a result. She told NBC-affiliate WNDU he’s lucky he will be able to walk again.
WNDU reached out to Kalamazoo Public Schools, which called the player’s behavior “unacceptable,” and he had received consequences.
An incident that occurred during Kalamazoo Central High School’s Junior Varsity football game on Sept. 19 was the action of an individual student who displayed an egregious act against a player on the opposing team.
This type of behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of sportsmanship, respect, and integrity that Kalamazoo Public Schools expects from student-athletes, coaches, and the entire school community.
The student’s behavior has been addressed, and the student involved has received consequences consistent with the Kalamazoo Public Schools Student Code of Conduct and in compliance with Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) regulations.
The district remains committed to ensuring all athletic competitions are conducted safely and respectfully. We are reinforcing our expectations with all student-athletes and coaches and will continue to provide guidance and education to ensure this type of behavior is never repeated.
Susan L. Coney | Chief of Marketing and Communications, Kalamazoo Public Schools
WNDU also received a letter from Lakeshore Public Schools superintendent, who said the play was “totally unacceptable and has no place in student athletics.”
Dear Lakeshore students, staff and families,
At Lakeshore Public Schools, our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students.
I would like to provide an update to our families, staff and students regarding an incident that occurred during the Sept. 18 junior varsity football game between Lakeshore and Kalamazoo Central.
Following a play, a Kalamazoo Central student body slammed a Lakeshore student who was laying on the ground. This incident was an intentional, unprovoked and flagrant violation of the rules and appropriate sports conduct and resulted in an injury to one of our Lakeshore student athletes.
We wish the Lakeshore student a speedy recovery and we are in regular communication with his family regarding this matter. We also have put in place supportive measures to ensure our student athlete can continue his education while he recovers.
The incident, which was captured on video and shared widely on social media and across media outlets, is totally unacceptable and has no place in student athletics. The superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools has apologized for the incident and applied serious disciplinary consequences to their student athlete consistent with its student policies and code of conduct.
Following the incident, both varsity teams came together before their game on Sept. 19 to say a prayer for the injured student in a showcase of sportsmanship and compassion.
We are closely monitoring the situation, and we will provide updates when available and appropriate to share. We also continue to wish our student athlete a speedy recovery from injuries sustained.
Greg Eding | Superintendent, Lakeshore Public Schools