Wrestling coach Tommy Perez has issued a public apology after the Adidas Nationals, where he slammed his son, Kingston, headfirst onto the mat following Kingston’s loss in his bout, and refused to shake hands with the winner. Perez mentioned how it was plain wrong and losing his temper on the mat was surely not the right way to handle adversity.
The Adidas Nationals took place at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Missouri, from April 2-4 and saw a record number of aspiring folkstyle wrestlers compete at grade levels. Kingston came in at 85 lbs from Mocco Wrestling and squared off against Liam Reeves of Steel Valley Renegades WC in the final. He lost the bout by a 3-4 decision.
After the fight, both athletes shook hands, and as they made their way back to their respective stands, Tommy grabbed Kingston by his head and shoved him down the mat. Tommy later wrote an emotional apology to his son publicly.
“I want to offer a full and unconditional apology for my behavior at the Adidas Nationals. My actions were wrong, plain and simple,” he said.
He went on to mention how his composure slipped away due to the heat of the night and made a promise to never let something of that sort even cross his mind. He highlighted his responsibilities as a father and a coach to uphold the values of guidance and moral composure.
He further extended his wishes to the winner, Liam Reeves, despite refusing a handshake, calling the athlete an outstanding player with grit.
Tommy Perez Steps Down from Coaching After Adidas Nationals
As Perez made his emotional plea for forgiveness for his post-match actions, he made it clear that he has decided to step down as a coach to reflect, learn, and grow from his actions.
In the same apology note, Perez dedicated a separate section, apologizing to the wrestling community in general and coaches.
“I fell short in every way and I have spoken with our club leadership and will be stepping back from coaching,” he said.
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