Iowa Wrestler Defaults Match Rather Than Compromise His Conscience

"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."

So check this one out.  A homeschooled boy named Joel Northrup made national news when he defaulted on his first-round state tournament match rather than wrestle Cassy Herkelman and Meagan Black, one of the first girls ever to qualify for the event.  Northrup wrote: "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.  It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."

Northrup's decision has sparked a national debate about co-ed wrestling.  Presently, it appears the majority agree with Northrup.

We live in a society where things are changing pretty rapidly and I can only imagine what challenges my kids will face but I was very pleased by the back bone of this young man to risk a media backlash and maybe even his teammates ridicules to stand up for what he believes.