Video of Home Schooled Wrestler Forfeiting Match Against a Girl, In Iowa State Tournament

ChicoER Gate ^ | 2/17/11 | Chuck Wolk

[Amos McCoy]

When it became apparent that his opponent in the state tournament wrestling match would be a girl., e would be facing off against a girl, Joel Northrup, forfeited his match to her.  As a home-schooled sophomore with a 35-4 record, Joel is also a Christian who takes his faith seriously. So he could not in good conscience wrestle with a  girl due to the manner in which a wrestler must grapple with their opponent. If only we had more boys raised to respect the fairer sex as much as Joel has been.   His parents are homeschooling him. but he has been allowed to wrestle with the Lin-Mar of Marion Iowa.  So Cassy Herkelman of Cedar Falls was able to win her first match at the Iowa State High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2011. 

Her opponent, Joel Northrup of Linn-Mar of Marion, declined to wrestle her.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan (Black, the tournament's other female entrant) 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. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most of the high school sports in Iowa."

His coach Doug Streicher did not speak with the media after the match. The other girl, Megan, lost her match in 52 seconds to the boy she wrestled.

Video of wrestler forfeiting match against a girl.

[Amos McCoy]

Finally a young man who was raised well by his parents who is willing to show God's glory to all through his actions by not participating in something that goes against his beliefs - even when that means no state championship. And even when that means that some will twist this into a gender/sexist/leftist ideology.

There are two videos at this site. One that shows Joel forfeiting, and another where the Athletic Director does a stand up job of defending Joel's decision not to wrestle with a girl on principle.

[nolongerademocrat]

Good for him.

[Persevero]

I am very proud of this young man. An excellent testimony.

[kimmie7]

Bravo, Joel! Bravo!

[Mr. Mojo]

The other girl, Megan, lost her match in 52 seconds to the boy she wrestled.

He sure took his sweet time.

[Clock King]

Yeah, the girl really wants some guy she never met grabbing her down by the crotch (inner thigh) and under her boobs? The girl’s parent(s) are nuts.

[americanophile]

I'm not sure it has much to do with faith, as opposed to old fashioned good manners, but it seems like a decision of conscience nonetheless.

[Cedar]

Good for Joel. Jesus said His people would be “the light of the world” -— and Joel is shining his light today!

[BigCinBigD]

He should have made an example of her.

[bigbob]

I gotta agree. I’m no prude but this boy-girl wrestling? It’s just wrong. What the hell is wrong with our schools? Oh, just watched what’s happening in Madison, never mind.

[The_Media_never_lie]

The whole idea is silly.

[krb]

I don’t get it. Was he afraid he was going to not be able to control himself? Why couldn’t he make quick work of her and demonstrate how silly it is for boys and girls to be doing this sport together?

[Amos McCoy]

I'm not sure it has much to do with faith, as opposed to old fashioned good manners, but it seems like a decision of conscience nonetheless.

Actually it was stated by him that it was his faith and understanding that God does not want men handling women in inappropriate ways they are not married to.

After you are married you can wrestle your wife and pin her down for the count all you want.says a man should be with a woman.

[johngrace]

If he did wrestler her we would never had heard about his christian witness.

[Amos McCoy]

You are not a Christian are you?

If you are one, then you must ignore God's warning against fondling ladies you are not married to, regardless of the reason?

[Future Snake Eater]

Hmmmm...well, I guess he’s a better man than I. Personally, this would seem an appropriate time to demonstrate that there really are some things that women just shouldn’t do.

[americanophile]

I read what he said. Again, I’m not sure there’s anything necessarily anti-biblical about wrestling a girl in a competition, but it doesn’t seem gentlemanly.

[Persevero]

“He should have made an example of her.”

I think, in a very real way, he did.

[krb]

Cute, newbie. Are you a Muslim?

Are you saying you couldn’t control yourself from raping her long enough to make quick work of the obviously bad experiment being conducted by the school system? Are you like that Egyptian crowd?

[West Texas Chuck]

"I am very proud of this young man. An excellent testimony."

Well said. When I was that age I was doing karate and I had to do kumite with a skinny little gal on a regular basis, it was a small class. I just couldn't bring myself to punch her or kick her. I nearly pulled the top of her gi off by accident one time with an attempted hip toss and that was really embarassing, for me at least as much as her. I hated fighting her, I always got a bloody lip, the gal had 5 older brothers and was a tough one, but I just couldn't approach a match with her like it was a real fight.

I admire this young man for the courage of his convictions.