lady challengers

Why High School Wrestler Joel Northrup Forfeited: His Religion Doesn’t Let Him Pin Chicks

Rather than face off against lady challenger Cassy Herkelman a a state meet today, 16-year-old Iowa wrestler Joel Northrup forfeited the match, saying, “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. 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.” The loss-by-default means Northrup loses his chance at the state championship title. Herkelman, a high school freshman, and Megan Black, a sophomore at another school, became the tournament’s first-ever female athletes in its 85 years. And while male v. female matches would have a fifty percent reduction in the chances of this happening, think of the outcry that would’ve taken place if there was a butt drag. Or a vagina drag.

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