East Buchanan has experience with female wrestling

DES MOINES - East Buchanan's wrestling program has had its share of female wrestlers.The Bucs have had three female wrestlers the last 12 years, including Kendra Kehrli this season. the first was Emily Stiefel. Gender isn't an issue to Coach Dan Fox."We have Kendra in the room everyday," Fox said before the start of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 1A state tournament Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. "She's just one of the wrestlers. She's like any other athlete we have."Earlier in the day, Linn-Mar's fifth-ranked 112-pounder Joel Northrup defaulted to Cedar Falls' Cassy Herkelman, who became the first female qualifier for the traditional state tournament in the 86 years governed by the IHSAA, in the opening round of 3A competition. Fox rode the fence on forfeiting matches based on gender of the opponent."My stand is if a girl wants to wrestle that's fine and if a kid doesn't want to wrestle her that's fine, too," Fox said. "I'm not taking a stand either way."Kehrli has received some forfeits, but Fox said she's wrestled quite a bit. Many of her teammates and coaches respect her dedication and intensity, according to Fox. He said his team attended a tournament that had three girls in the same bracket this season.Fox said he believed Thursday's decision by Northrup didn't have much to do with wins or losses, but more of a personal call. The choice was made at the expense of a state title."It was a family decision," Fox said. "When they booed I think it was unfair to the kid."He made a decision and stuck to his guns."