Teen athletes honor child-abuse survivor

BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. - A little boy from Kansas who was involved in a terrible abuse case two years ago was honored at a high school wrestling match tonight.

Back in Aug. 2010, 6-year-old Giovanni -- whom we've come to know as Govi -- was found in his family's attic covered with feces and weighing less than 20 pounds.

Last year, his birth mother was sentenced to eight years in prison for attempted second-degree murder and child abuse. His adoption into a new family was finalized in May.

Thursday night, friends of Govi stepped up to make a dream come true. Govi was asked to be the Bonner Springs High School wrestling team’s honorary captain. Coach Brandon Job said a member of the wrestling team came to him with the idea.

"It's truly an inspiration to me and obviously all of our guys,” Job said. “We talked a little this week, and it puts things in perspective for some of these guys."

Coach Job said Govi inspired the team. They won 69-3 tonight.