Forfeit Not Fight: Boy Says No to Wrestling Girl

Forfeit Not Fight: Boy Says No to Wrestling Girl

Today on the Internet is the story of Joel Northrup, the high school boy who competed in the 91-year-old Iowa wrestling tournament, that had been an all-boys event until this year. Yesterday, Thursday, young Northrup forfeited a match, rather than to wrestle a girl. Today, Friday, Northrup was knocked out of the tournament. The forfeiture hurt.

I do not fault the Northrup kid for refusing to wrestle the girl. Maybe I am 20th century. I still believe that there is a difference between boys and girls, and that boys should not wrestle girls.

Also, today, reports USA Today, the girl found her match and was eliminated from the tournament after two loses.

Item from the Associated Press -- "Iowa wrestling standout Joel Northrup refuses to face his female opponent in the state championship, saying it was against his religious beliefs. The call likely cost him the championship. But the decision seemed to be respected by his opponent." See the video.