A high school wrestler in Iowa gave up his chance for a state championship by refusing to wrestle against his first round opponent, who happened to be a girl.
Joel Northrup, who is a Christian, said it went against his religious convictions to compete against a girl. Before getting too upset with Northrup and calling him out as a sexist, take a look at his reasoning. He said he didn't feel it was appropriate to engage in violent acts toward women. Here is a young man that should be applauded for his views, yet it seems many are lashing out at him as sexist. To the contrary, Northrup is a young man with uncommon courage to take a stand on his convictions. In a society that has endured way too much violence toward women, his actions are a breath of fresh air.
Another aspect that Northrup did not discuss was that fact that in wrestling, it is inevitable that wrestlers must touch each other in areas that aren't appropriate for those of the opposite sex.
Northrup wasn't shying away from competition. This isn't a tennis match or golf tournament or NASCAR race where there is no physical contact. Perhaps this is a wake-up call for the state organizers who allow such competition. Let's hope Joel Northrup is a name that will be remembered for years as a true champion.
Link to Greg Doyel article
Link to Rick Reily article. Reily just doesn't "get it."
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