Week 5 - I Won't Wrestle a Girl

Article 5

In the Iowa state wrestling meet, wrestler Joel Northrup decided to default instead of wrestling female opponent Cassy Herkleman, one of only two females who qualified for the state tournament.  Joel issued a statement saying that "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."  This article makes me sad and angry all at the same time.  I understand and see that some people's religions have strict rules about how to treat women, but I don't agree.  Cassy earned to right to be in the state meet and was obviously good enough to compete.  Instead she moved ahead in the competition by default and didn't get to prove to herself and everyone else that she was good enough.  Cassy released a statement saying that she respected Joel for sticking to his beliefs, something that she said would be hard for a 15- or 16-year old boy to do.  Still, even after her acceptance of his default, I can't seem to kick the feeling that Cassy was hurt by his refusal to wrestle her.  I know I would've been.  It denial makes it as if the female gender is weaker and needs protecting, something I fully disagree with.