A standout high school wrestler in the United States has refused to compete against a girl at a major tournament because he says grappling with girls conflicts with his religious beliefs.
Year 10 student Joel Northrup, the son of a church minister, [said] “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.”
[Cassie] Herkelman and another female competitor Megan Black made history by being the first females to compete in the competition in its 85-year history.
Northrup had also defaulted three years earlier when he was scheduled to wrestle Black.
“If it’s his religion and he’s strong in his religion, then I just respect that,” Black said. . . .
A standout high school wrestler in the United States has refused to compete against a girl at a major tournament because he says grappling with girls conflicts with his religious beliefs.
Year 10 student Joel Northrup, the son of a church minister, [said] “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.”
[Cassie] Herkelman and another female competitor Megan Black made history by being the first females to compete in the competition in its 85-year history.
Northrup had also defaulted three years earlier when he was scheduled to wrestle Black.
“If it’s his religion and he’s strong in his religion, then I just respect that,” Black said. . . .
IMO, organized, competitve wrestling involving 7-10 year old kids is outrageous to start with. The kids will develop better if they are left on their own to organize their own activities, like sandlot base ball,etc. Also will have far less chance of permanent injury if they are not pushed to compete by their parents and other adults geting their rocks off pushing this crap.
I don’t agree that it’s outrageous. Kids do variations on grappling all the time anyway. It’s great exercise, and it teaches them some good stuff about basic self-defense.
It’s true that some adults can cause problems “getting their rocks off” but this is not specific to competitive Greco-Roman wrestling. Like, for example, adults who tell their kids that wrestling with girls is sinful. I suspect that the “against my religion” excuse is just that - an excuse to avoid embarassment.
I don’t agree that it’s outrageous. Kids do variations on grappling all the time anyway. It’s great exercise, and it teaches them some good stuff about basic self-defense.
It’s true that some adults can cause problems “getting their rocks off” but this is not specific to competitive Greco-Roman wrestling. Like, for example, adults who tell their kids that wrestling with girls is sinful. I suspect that the “against my religion” excuse is just that - an excuse to avoid embarassment.
To bad we will never know. It does seem mighty convenient though.
Yeah, he would have suffered no end of ridicule if a girl had whipped his ass in public.
But using religion as an excuse is lame. He should have just admitted he would have embarrassed himself by, um, wetting his shorts if he wrestled the girl.
How strange co-ed wrestling?
Jeezus am I out of the loop.
On the one hand I loved high school wrestling myself, having participated three out of my four high school years. And I credit it with saving my ass on a couple occasions, so I can appreciate a girl wanting to get some experience. But, Boy, o’boy I’m going to have to run this one by my own daughter.
Now that I’m thinking about it my 14 month younger sister and I used to wrestle up a storm. I think the last time we were in our twenties and it was pure fun, no hostility. But, competition high school wrestling with girls. Jeez that makes me feel old and square.
Yeah, he would have suffered no end of ridicule if a girl had whipped his ass in public.
But using religion as an excuse is lame. He should have just admitted he would have embarrassed himself by, um, wetting his shorts if he wrestled the girl.
For an immature high-schooler, this may be a problem. But it’s also possoble that a loss was also a possibility. Look at the girl’s shoulders. I bet she’s unusually strong, even as thin as she is.
When I was in 10th grade I would have enjoyed “wrestling with women,” but I couldn’t find any “who were willing to participate.” Damn.
Yea, but not in front of everyone, down behind the bleachers.
TromboneAndrew - 21 February 2011 12:57 PM
But it’s also possible that a loss was also a possibility. Look at the girl’s shoulders. I bet she’s unusually strong, even as thin as she is.
She got shoulders. No doubt she would have been tough, paired off by weight class. And there’s the attitude thing, from the picture I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if she could be a no-nonsense terror on the mat.
