A high school student named Rachel Bolanos has been recently caught on camera punching another girl in the face at a hockey game. After receiving criticism for her actions, she decided to speak out and explain her side of things. Her coach says that while he was disappointed with the incident, it’s not an excuse for bullying behavior and can be interpreted as self-defense against verbal harassment.
The head coach of an American soccer player who was caught on camera punching another player in a viral video has spoken out, saying he is “very sorry” for his role in the incident.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (CBSLA) – On Saturday, the coach of the player shown hitting an opponent in a viral video spoke out for the first time about the event.
“First and foremost, I’d want to extend my heartfelt apologies on behalf of our Academy to the Ham Family on the day Lauryn was wounded,” wrote Alex Wilson, the Dream Basketball Academy’s head coach. 
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“I want to reassure you that our Academy takes these issues extremely seriously and does not condone such conduct.” EVER. (sic)”
In the viral video, the player in issue is seen hitting Lauryn Ham, 15, during a youth club basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 7. Ham received a concussion and a damaged neck. The player has subsequently been suspended indefinitely, according to Wilson.
Because of her age, the child will not be identified. She is the daughter of former NBA star Corey Benjamin. The player was allegedly prompted to strike Ham by her mother, according to several witnesses.
“We are assisting [the athlete] and her mother in seeking therapy and anger management, as well as community service,” Wilson wrote. “They could not be more repentant for their role in this unfortunate course of events.”
A second video has surfaced, showing the gamer fighting another player in a different game. The footage, according to Wilson, has been taken out of context.
“Another video from September is circulating with no context and no link to what happened last Sunday in Garden Grove,” he added. “The September footage was the consequence of people cheapshooting [her] throughout the game and inexperienced umpires who couldn’t regulate the game at this specific tournament.” (sic)”
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The Ham family has filed a police complaint in the aftermath of the viral event. They also want the offending player and her mother to be barred from participating in youth basketball and prosecuted. Wilson, on the other hand, thinks that’s going too far.
“[The player] committed a mistake at an emotionally hard period in Sunday’s game,” he wrote, “who was already suffering.” Her mother, too, committed a mistake she wishes she could undo. Do we really want to wreck the future of a 13-year-old (now 14-year-old) because of this blunder? (sic)”
Wilson brought up the recent brawl between Nikola Jokic, the NBA’s reigning MVP, and Markieff Morris. After pushing Morris to the ground, Jokic was suspended for one game.
“Does the court of public opinion demand that someone file charges against him?” Wilson wondered. “Are we attempting to put a stop to his career?” No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no Are we going to label it a racially motivated attack? Clearly not! That makes no sense under these circumstances. In the same way that it makes no sense in this case with these two young girls (sic).”
Wilson requested that the public allow the girls and their family to utilize this as a teaching opportunity.
Ham’s family has yet to hear from the other player or her mother, according to her relatives.
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The entire text of Wilson’s statement may be seen here.
