Wrestling

Youth wrestler who sucker-punched opponent cited for assault

By
Jared Schwartz
Published April 20, 2023
Updated April 21, 2023, 9:21 a.m. ET
Youth wrestler sucker punches opponent after loss
0 seconds of 45 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Next Up
Devils' Den murder suspect appears in court after dramatic salon arrest
00:48
00:00
00:45
00:45
More Videos
00:45
Youth wrestler sucker punches opponent after loss
00:48
Devils' Den murder suspect appears in court after dramatic salon arrest
00:34
Massive blaze near Grand Canyon rim triggers ‘fire clouds’
03:25
American dad DUPED into fighting on Russian frontlines after family fled US
08:44
New conspiracy theories swirl after feds say Jeffrey Epstein ‘client list’ didn’t exist
04:19
X CEO Yaccarino QUITS – One day after Musk’s chatbot praises Hitler in epic meltdown
02:02
France to release pro-Palestinian militant who killed US diplomat – after 40 YEARS in prison
14:54
How safe are office buildings after crazed NYC shooter Shane Tamura kills four in Park Ave skyscraper? Security experts weigh in
Close
 

A high school wrestler who sucker punched his opponent is now dealing with the consequences.

Hafid Alicea, who clocked Cooper Corder after losing their eighth-grade wrestling match, has been cited for assault, according to TMZ.

Alicea received the citation on Thursday after admitting to officers he punched Corder because “he was angry that he had lost the match,” the Oak Park Police Department told the outlet.

All parties cooperated with the investigation, according to the report.

The incident occurred in Oak Park, Ill. at the 2023 Beat the Streets Developmental FS Tournament on April 8.

It was a third-place match in the 125-128-pound weight class.

Corder attends SPAR Academy, while Alicea attends Maine West High School.

Maine West High School's Hafid Alicea punches SPAR Academy's Cooper Corder after their match.
Maine West High School’s Hafid Alicea punches SPAR Academy’s Cooper Corder after their match on April 8. Screengrab

Corder, who was wearing an orange singlet, defeated Alicea, who was wearing a blue singlet, 14-2 in the match.

As Corder attempted to shake hands with Alicea following the victory, Alicea subsequently met him with his fist.

Alicea now faces potential fines and other penalties, according to TMZ.

Corder reportedly suffered facial injuries after being hit.
Cooper Corder lies on the ground in pain after being punched by Hafid Alicea following their wrestling match on April 8. Screengrab

“[Corder] is making the best of the situation and is already back to training,” SPAR Academy founder Justin Pearch previosuly told TMZ. “As you may know, wrestling matches can get heated but nothing leading up to the punch would give cause to such bad decision-making on the opponent’s part.

“It’s not tolerated in our sport and Spar Wrestling will never condone that behavior.”