Herkelman comments on historic state experience

DES MOINES - Cedar Falls' Cassy Herkelman finally got her chance to compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament.After she received a default from Linn-Mar's Joel Northrup, who cited religious beliefs, She advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals without wrestling a minute while being thrust into a national media frenzy Thursday. Herkelman, a freshman, lost a 5-1 decision to Indianola's Matt Victor before being eliminated by Des Moines North/Hoover's Jordan Jones. Interestingly, Northrup was eliminated in an overtime match by Pleasant Valley Tyler Willers shortly after Herkelman.Despite the controversy that surrounded her, Iowa's first female state qualifier made the most of the situation.“I had fun with it,” the 14-year-old Herkelman said about competing, while flanked by Cedar Falls coach Wil Kelly and her dad, Bill, surrounded by a swarm of media. “Just being here was an exciting event.”Northrup's decision not to wrestle her catapulted the tournament into another level. As word circulated the days before the meet Northrup may default, Herkelman figured the atmosphere would be wild.“I knew it was going to be expected,” Herkelman said. “After districts it was already crazy, so I knew it was going to be crazy,”Herkelman said it was hard to focus and coaches, parents and teammates tried to shield her from a lot of the attention, taking her cell phone and a “blackout” of television and Internet. Bill Herkelman praised Wells Fargo Arena staff for added security for her and Megan Black of Ottumwa, who also qualified at 112 pounds in 3A.Neither Herkelman, nor her father, seemed contemptuous toward the Northrups, and actually appeared empathetic.“It didn't bother me at all,” Bill Herkelman said. “It didn't surprise me at all and I understand the reason why they made the decision. it's an unfortunate thing that it became such a news story. That it was such a personal and family decision that he made to default to her. I respect their decision. I don't second-guess any of their decisions.”Herkelman said she knew his default was an option leading up to the tournament.“he made his choice,” Herkelman said. “It's not like he did what he didn't want to do.”They seemed to acknowledge the sacrifice Northrup made by sticking to his conviction by not wrestling. Herkelman's message was simple. She wanted to be treated in the same manner as her male counterparts.“I feel like people should treat me the same way,” she said. “The fact that I'm doing the same sport as them that I'm doing the same things as them.”As for the physical and sometimes violent aggression in wrestling, Cassy Herkelman knew what she started wrestling in second grade.“That's part of wrestling,” Herkelman said. “If you're going to go out for wrestling you going to have to know it's going to come.”It also means dealing with the results of physical competition. And she's OK with that.“She's had her fair share of bloody noses, bloody lips, bumps and bruises,” Bill Herkelman said. “She knows it's going to come.”Bill Herkelman said the default won't overshadow what his daughter has achieved. It adds to it.“I don't think it diminishes her accomplishments,” Bill Herkelman said. “It just adds another facet to it.”Cassy Herkelman, who finished, 21-15, wants to add even more to it. She shared her goals for next year, while lamenting on her recent experience.“Winning more matches and get further into the tournament,” Cassy Herkelman said about what she wanted to accomplish. “I feel excited and just the fact I made it here means a lot to me.”