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Teen Male Refuses to Wrestle Girl Due to Faith
The Christian Post ^ | Feb. 18, 2011 | Josephine Vivaldo

Posted on 02/18/2011 2:36:18 PM PST by wmfights

A high school wrestler in Iowa refused to compete against a female opponent due to his Christian beliefs. Upon hearing that the match would be with a girl in the state tournament, Joel Northrup decided to lose by default rather than compete against Cassy Herkelman.

The 112-pound wrestler explained, "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."

He continued, "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."

According to The Associated Press, the boy’s father is a minister at Believers in Grace Fellowship, an independent Pentecostal church in Marion. The church believes that young teens of opposite sex should not come in physical contact with each other in a “familiar way,” according to the church’s pastor.

Northrup’s pastor stated, "We believe in the elevation and respect of woman and we don't think that wrestling a woman is the right thing to do. Body slamming and takedowns, that full contact sport is not how to do that."

The girl’s father, Bill Herkelman, told The Associated press, "It's nice to get the first win and have her be on the way to the medal round.

"I sincerely respect the decision of the Northrup family especially since it was made on the biggest stage in wrestling. I have heard nothing but good things about the Northrup family and hope Joel does very well the remainder of the tourney."

Although the home-schooled sophomore was allowed to compete in the consolations round, due to default and not forfeit, it is possible for him and Herkelman to be matched up again if they both make it to the finals.


TOPICS: Charismatic Christian; Evangelical Christian; General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: culture; helosttoagirl; wrestling
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To: GunRunner

The girl may have won a few of these because her opponent wouldn’t use moves on her that he would on a man anatomy wise


21 posted on 02/18/2011 3:15:59 PM PST by clamper1797 (Pray for Obama ... Psalms 109:8)
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To: Age of Reason
Did you read my post?

Did you learn anything from it?

What kind of reply was that?

22 posted on 02/18/2011 3:17:13 PM PST by Leo Farnsworth (I'm not really Leo Farnsworth.)
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To: 1010RD; Cementjungle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2vH8APzfmY


23 posted on 02/18/2011 3:18:39 PM PST by samtheman
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To: Age of Reason
I doubt he'd find some sweaty huge masculine girl attractive.

Yes, what a huge disgusting hulk of a girl.


24 posted on 02/18/2011 3:22:33 PM PST by GunRunner (10 Years of Freeping...)
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To: Cementjungle





25 posted on 02/18/2011 3:26:11 PM PST by bigjoesaddle (Why Me?.... Why Not Me?.... Me Why Not?... Not Why Me?...Me Not Why?......Me Drunk.)
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To: clamper1797
Yeah, and they got beat by a girl.

That's not really her problem.

Everyone in high school wrestling knows that there is a very, very small chance you will come across a female opponent if you're in the lighter weight classes. If you can't handle it then maybe you need another sport.

26 posted on 02/18/2011 3:27:13 PM PST by GunRunner (10 Years of Freeping...)
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To: bigjoesaddle

Just some pics of wrestling for some of you that don’t realize what wrestling is like.


27 posted on 02/18/2011 3:33:26 PM PST by bigjoesaddle ("Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged". - Reagan)
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To: stripes1776
>> Too bad the young man couldn't get past whatever issues he had and face her as an athlete. <<

>> His main issue is that he is a gentleman observing the rules of chivalry. <<

That may be so, but I see nothing in the bible that states "Thou shall not wrestle women". He might not want to wrestle her out of politeness, but saying he's unable to do so because of his religion is really stretching it.

28 posted on 02/18/2011 3:34:10 PM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: GunRunner

And if he had pinned her, she’d have whined and complained. You can’t win for losing.

They should be building up their own squad.


29 posted on 02/18/2011 3:40:10 PM PST by BenKenobi (Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. - Silent Cal)
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To: wmfights

Why exactly is it a matter of faith?


30 posted on 02/18/2011 3:41:37 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: BillyBoy
That may be so, but I see nothing in the bible that states "Thou shall not wrestle women". He might not want to wrestle her out of politeness, but saying he's unable to do so because of his religion is really stretching it.

There is a very long history of Christian chivalry. This boy is following that long tradition.

31 posted on 02/18/2011 3:50:29 PM PST by stripes1776
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To: wmfights

Conscience, faith, whatever it’s an out.

What male teen wants to be faced with;
a) beats a girl
b) get beaten by a girl


32 posted on 02/18/2011 3:51:10 PM PST by diverteach (If I find liberals in heaven after my death.....I WILL BE PISSED!!!)
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To: Leo Farnsworth
'Chivalry’ was a set of rules whereby married men could have sex with other women by acting ‘chivalrous’ during the Victorian era.

Not even close.

This wrestler is a good dude, like you.

If that was an attempt at an ad hominen attack on me, you misfired.

33 posted on 02/18/2011 3:53:51 PM PST by stripes1776
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To: BenKenobi
She's a seasoned wrestler who has a 20-13 record. She knows what its like to lose.

She just got knocked out of the tournament today after losing her next two matches. The difference is, the guys who beat her will be going on to the semis while the guy who gave up because he didn't want to wrestle a girl gets to go home.

34 posted on 02/18/2011 3:55:30 PM PST by GunRunner (10 Years of Freeping...)
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To: Leo Farnsworth
‘Chivalry’ was a set of rules whereby married men could have sex with other women by acting ‘chivalrous’ during the Victorian era.

**********************************

In fact, your definition could not be more incorrect:

From Wikipedia:

Chivalry is a term related to the medieval (Middle Ages) institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. It is usually associated with ideals of knightly virtues, honor and courtly love: "the source of the chivalrous idea," remarked Johan Huizinga, who devoted several chapters of The Waning of the Middle Ages to chivalry and its effects on the medieval character, "is pride aspiring to beauty, and formalized pride gives rise to a conception of honour, which is the pole of noble life."[1]

35 posted on 02/18/2011 3:58:46 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Leo Farnsworth

The word has the same root as “chevalier” which is French for a knight on horseback, more or less. It predates the Victorian era by a thousand years or so at least.


36 posted on 02/18/2011 3:58:46 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: bigjoesaddle

One of my friends in high school and college was a national champion. I not only attended many of his matches, but also his practices. Wrestling is not a sport that should ever allow males and females to compete together. This is just nuttiness.


37 posted on 02/18/2011 4:03:34 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: wmfights
"It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."

But a situation he was aware could happen. Now that it has he's taken a principled stand and is standing by his beliefs. He is to be congratulated for that.

38 posted on 02/18/2011 4:03:34 PM PST by K-Stater
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To: GunRunner

Then she’s a rarity if she’s willing to take the hits.

Most don’t. She’d be better off competing against other girls.


39 posted on 02/18/2011 4:04:00 PM PST by BenKenobi (Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. - Silent Cal)
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To: wmfights

Good for him!


40 posted on 02/18/2011 4:07:18 PM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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