Michigan high school punishes football player for spine-fracturing attack on rival

BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN: A high school in Michigan has punished one of its own junior varsity players who injured a much smaller opponent by jumping on top of him and fracturing his spine during a football game on September 18. The disciplinary action was announced by Kalamazoo Central after the incident drew national headlines.

Game incident leaves Colton Mims injured

Images from the game between Lakeshore and Kalamazoo Central showed 15-year-old Colton Mims lying on the ground after losing a blocking battle to an offensive lineman. While Mims was still on the turf, the much larger lineman jumped into the air, dropping his body on top of him

As a result, Mims was diagnosed with two spinal fractures. The incident attracted national attention, prompting Kalamazoo Central to release a statement saying they took “strong and decisive action” against their player, whose identity was not disclosed. 

Statements from both schools

“Due to student privacy laws, we cannot disclose the specific accountability actions, but they have exceeded what (Michigan High School Athletics Association) regulations would otherwise require in cases of dangerous and unsportsmanlike behavior,” Kalamazoo Central told Fox News.

A statement from the Kalamazoo district said the player’s behavior was “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 district confirmed the student “received consequences consistent with the Kalamazoo Public Schools Student Code of Conduct and in compliance with Michigan High School Athletic Association regulations.”

Meanwhile, the superintendent of Lakeshore Public Schools sent a letter to students, staff, and families, calling the act “an intentional, unprovoked, and flagrant violation of the rules and appropriate sports conduct.”

According to the letter, the school has remained in contact with Mims’ family. “We have also put in place supportive measures to ensure our student-athlete can continue his education while he recovers,” the statement added.

Courtney Mims reacts to son’s injury

Colton’s mother, Courtney Mims, told local station WSBT that she was present at the game and rushed to her son’s side.

“As soon as it clicked that it was him, I couldn’t be stopped. I had to go down there. I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve never been as upset or shaken as I was for my son,” she said on September 19.

She added that both boys are only 15 and that football means everything to them. Watching her son’s dream shaken by another player’s reckless action was heartbreaking.

Courtney later shared a Facebook post thanking the community for its support and noted that some Kalamazoo Central players reached out to apologize.

“This truly brought me to tears and reminded me that one player’s actions do not reflect the entire team,” she wrote. “We stand on the right side and are thankful to everyone who has supported us and continues to share Colton’s story.