High school wrestler defaults rather than face girl

[Buccos13]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201....ap/index.html

By defaulting he basically forfeits the match without it going as a forfeit on his record, if that makes any sense to you. But anyway, what do you think about this? The statement released from the male wrestler:

"Wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," Northrup said in a statement released by his high school. "As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."

Now, at first, you might think that this kid forfeited just so that he wouldn't have to face the possibility of losing to a girl. But, I mean, he went 35-4 in the regular season, so it's unlikely that he would lose and I doubt that was his reasoning. What do you think?

[JoshRedcay]

Huge props go out to him, I really don't think girls should be allowed to compete in male wrestling. I also agree it would be inappropriate to engage with a girl like that. Shows he's got lots of maturity.

[Jake]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of coed sports in general, at least not at the high school level; and honestly, wrestling is the last place a coed match should be happening.

[Old Sweater]

Northrup's decision to default put Herkelman in the quarterfinals in the 112-pound weight class, and it put her name in the record book as the first girl to win an Iowa state tournament match. But it deprived her of the chance to show the skills that earned her a 20-13 pre-tournament record.

I'm surprised that a girl could put up a 20-13 record in the tough wrestling state of Iowa. IMO, the board of HS sports in Iowa is letting things get out of hand. How many parents would like to see their son wrestle a girl?

[Mickey Mental]

I think it would have been funny if his name was Cedar.

[Mudge]

Interestingly, at the big high school where I used to work, we had a similar situation occur -- from both sides of the gender gap. We had a wrestling team, and although there were no girls on it, several of our opponents did have girls on the team. Our coach was "old school" and chose not only to cede the individual contests, he forfeited the two matches (on principle). He was suspended by the school board, eventually reinstated, but decided to leave the district anyway.

Several years later, we had a young man whose family moved into the district from Australia. He was an excellent field hockey player, and he tried out for the only team we had, a girls' team. While he made the team (under the rule that he had to wear the uniform -- a skirt -- which he agreed to), he never played in a game, even though he was by far the best player on the field. The coach that it was her judgement that he "should not be playing on this level for reasons of his own safety," whatever that meant. She was supported by the school board. The boys' family chose not to make a big deal out of it.

Interesting contrast.

[LetsPlay2]

If she wants to get out there, then so be it.

BTW, I'm so tired of athletes (of any level) comparing a sport to combat, or saying that it's a "war" or a "battle" out there. Our society pays a lot, often too much, respect to athletes.... I think they should keep their activities in perspective, especially with our Armed Forces being engaged in two conflicts. It might sound like I'm coming down hard on a high school kid here, but you have to get to them early.

I am Baltimore Bob, and I approved this message.

[RickD]

I think this kid showed amazing class and wisdom beyond his years. I agree with him that boys and girls should not engage at that level!

[Old Sweater]

Wish they would've had this in PE when I was a kid! I would have taken PE IV which didn't exist but neither did PE III, which I slid in thanks to a coach that ran it.

---------- Post added at 07:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:39 AM ----------

Our coach was "old school" and chose not only to cede the individual contests, he forfeited the two matches (on principle).

When I read the article, I wondered how many forfeits this young lady had that led to her 20-13 record. Iowa is known for it's tough HS wrestling programs.

[RickD]

Both have since been eliminated, one right after the other!

http://www.highschoolsports.net/spor...erkelman_N.htm