Michigan High School Takes ‘Strong and Decisive’ Action After Brutal Football Hit

A Michigan high school has disciplined one of its own football players after a brutal hit left an opposing athlete with two spinal fractures.

What Happened During the Game

The incident happened during a junior varsity game on September 19 between Kalamazoo Central and Lakeshore High School. Video shared online shows a Kalamazoo Central player pouncing on Lakeshore’s 15-year-old Colton Mims after he was already down, slamming him into the turf.

Mims’ mother, who recorded the video embedded below, said her son’s spine was “broken in two places.” He was hospitalized and will spend months recovering.

Lakeshore Player Injured and Hospitalized

Kalamazoo Public Schools released a statement calling the act “the action of an individual student who made a poor choice.” The district said the unnamed player faced discipline that not only complied with Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) rules but went further, describing the punishment as “strong and decisive.”

Due to student privacy laws, the district cannot release details of the disciplinary action, but officials said it exceeded what the MHSAA requires in cases of dangerous and unsportsmanlike behavior.

Kalamazoo Public School Responds After Brutal Hit

“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 district said in its statement.

Lakeshore Schools officials said they are working closely with the family and Kalamazoo to ensure Mims can continue his education while he recovers.