Iowa wrestling standout refuses to face girl

Associated Press ^ | 2/17/11 | LUKE MEREDITH

[Nachum]

DES MOINES, Iowa – A standout Iowa high school wrestler refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament on Thursday, relinquishing any chance of becoming a champion because he says wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs.

Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High School this season, praised his first-round opponent, Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman, and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who became the first two girls to make the state wrestling tournament in its 85-year history.

But in a news release, he said he defaulted on his match with Herkelman because he doesn't think boys and girls should compete in the sport.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," said Northrup. "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."

[Nachum]

Can't agree with the kid, even though I sympathize him him. The best way to get girls/women out of contact sports with men is to destroy them completely on the field/mat/ice. If they can take it fine, if not- stay the hell out. That's why women won't get on an NBA court. The men show them no mercy.

[Pining_4_TX]

So you want a Christian kid to go against his principles just to prove a point? No, he did the right thing.
No gentleman, in the best sense of the word, whups up on a girl, not to mention the “groping” that happens in the sport of wrestling.

[Artemis Webb]

Actually it’s a no win situation for the guy. If he wins it’s like, “Bid deal. You beat a girl”. If he loses its, “Ha Ha you got beat by a girl!”.

[kearnyirish2]

The idea that he would even be facing a female in wrestling is absurd; do they get to select which sports they compete with males in and which they don’t?

[blarney]

I agree. Way back in the day I went to state 3times taking it twice and I really think I would have not been able to go against a girl. Nothing against the girl just how I was raised.

[max americana]

I doubt the kid will lose to the girls. If he had gone to the mat with her, all hell would break lose and the kid will be vilified as a perv. He said it best “It can get violent”.

[Huck]

he doesn't think boys and girls should compete in the sport.

Just curious what the basis for this is.

[icwhatudo]

I wonder if they let boys play softball in this school association.

[JoeProBono]

Cassy Herkelman tries to turn Lucas Brockman of West High during their match Thursday. Herkelman would eventually get her first pin of her varsity career, improving her record to 3-2. (photo by Eric VanSickle/Cedar Falls Times)

[NationalistVisionary]

So what is going to happen when she matches up with a male that decides to show here why she shouldn’t be wrestling with the guys? Even in an instance where there was no malice, if he gets hurt badly I can forsee a uproar about her being injured by a male wrestler. How many lawsuits will be filed by her family? I purposely did not say parents. Parents would not let their daughter fight with males.

[Palter]

"We believe in the elevation and respect of woman and we don't think that wrestling a woman is the right thing to do. Body slamming and takedowns, that full contact sport is not how to do that."

There is nothing disrespectful in wrestling. Just the opposite, one develops respect by competing against she/he.

Life is hard, good look competing against women in the workforce.

[traditional1]

I must be real ol' fashioned, but wrestling with a female as a "sport" to me is reminiscent of the Anika Sorenstam fiasco at The Masters Golf Tournament.

Of course, I've seen women that could compete in the Heavy Weight Division, and the guy would be hard-pressed to even get a grip on HER!

Anyway, there are some things nature planned that cannot be un-done.....each gender has its strong points, notwithstanding the mal-adjusted sex deviates who believe otherwise. (NO TWO HOMOSEXUALS HAVE EVER PRODUCED THEIR OWN OFFSPRING, PERIOD).

[blarney]

equality only goes one direction.

I find it funny how all this equality never actually means equality.

[bray]

Wonder what femihag genius decided he hat to wrestle a girl. Good for him standing up for what is right. There is no way to pin her w/o inappropriate touching.

Pray for America

[kabar]

That's why women won't get on an NBA court. The men show them no mercy.

It has less to do with mercy and more to do with ability. Women can't compete with men at the NBA level. A woman, Ann Meyer, was drafted by an NBA team many years ago. More as a publicity stunt than anthing else.

[businessprofessor]

I agree with the wrestler. This equality is just a one-way street. Females are allowed on male sports but males are prohibited in female competition. Wrestling is a very close and personal sport. Mixing genders at the high school level is ridiculous. Females have plenty of other sports.

[NationalistVisionary]

if SHE gets hurt

dang it.

[Gene Eric]

Why the hell is this young man being forced into this corner?

It’s outrageous that he’s required to wrestle a woman. What kind of d-bags are governing these matters?

[Nachum]

So what is going to happen when she matches up with a male that decides to show here why she shouldn’t be wrestling with the guys?

She's going to get pinned to two seconds flat- and a lot of bruises. AND- it gets worse at the college level. Then men are flat out vicious.

[NationalistVisionary]

hopefully she doesn’t ever have to match up with the “fingers up the butt” guy