High School Football Player Fractures Spine After Body Slam from Opposition

A high school football player has been left with a fractured spine following an incident involving a player on the opposing team.

On Thursday, Sept. 18, a Kalamazoo Central athlete was seen jumping on a Lakeshore competitor, 15, during a junior varsity football game, according to WSBT and WSJM. 

In a video that has been shared on social media, the Kalamazoo Central player was seen tackling the rival on the ground before standing up and jumping on top of him, per news.com.au.

The shocking incident took place during the third quarter of the game, WSBT reported.

“And I at first was like, ‘Is that my son?’ And as soon as it clicked that it was, I couldn’t be stopped. I had to go down there. It was I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve never been as upset or shaken up as I was over something for my son,” the injured player’s mother Courtney Mims, told the outlet.

Mims’ son — who is called Colton, according to news.com.au — was taken to the hospital where he was found to have a broken spine in two places, per WSBT.

PEOPLE has contacted the Michigan State Police, Lakeshore High School and Michigan High School Athletic Association for comment.

“He’s out at least for this season. We don’t know if he’s going to be able to play again. He should and will make a full recovery,” Mims said of her son, who is recovering at home.

“These boys are high school boys. They’re 15 years old. The game means a lot to them,” she continued. “It’s their whole life right now. They’re there from before I get up to go to work in the morning till after dinner, putting in the work and for somebody to try to take that from somebody doing so much is awful for me to see.”

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In a statement on Facebook on Friday, Kalamazoo Central High School condemned the actions of their student involved in the incident.

“An incident that occurred during the recent JV football game does not represent our football program, our coaching staff, or the values of our school community,” they said. “This was the action of an individual student who made a poor choice, acting on a social media video not connected to our team or coaches.”

They added, “The behavior was addressed, and the student has received consequences consistent with the Kalamazoo Public Schools Student Code of Conduct and in compliance with MHSAA regulations.”

“We remain committed to modeling and teaching positive sportsmanship and ensuring that Kalamazoo Central continues to be a place where athletics build character, teamwork, and pride,” the school concluded.

The principal of the school wrote another message in the comments section saying that they wouldn’t allow the page to “become a place where children are attacked. These are young people still learning and growing and they deserve to be treated with dignity, even when a poor decision has serious consequences.”

“Lives were changed in a single moment, and I am devastated that a child was injured. There must be accountability, there must be consequences, and there must also be room for learning, healing, and moving forward,” the principal added.

In a statement to WSBT, the Michigan High School Athletic Association said they were working with both schools to resolve the matter “internally.”