Linn-Mar Wrestler faults at State Championship, did not want to wrestle female

Linn-Mar Wrestler faults at State Championship, did not want to wrestle female

Earlier today Linn-Mar Sophomore wrestler Joel Northup faulted his wrestling match against Cedar Falls Freshman wrestler Cassy Herkelman. Yes, that's right, Cassy…a girl.

Both wrestle at the 112-pound weight division in the Iowa State High School Championships which opened yesterday. This is actually big news as this is the first year ever that a female has made it to the state championships in Iowa, which began in 1926.

To be honest, I see the negatives and positives from both sides here but as I read more of this it angers me and makes me question, why was he wrestling in the first place? When I was in high school there were girls that wrestled, I've had female friends that were wrestlers. Didn't he or his coach know that in his same weight class there were 2 girls wrestling that were good enough to get to state?

Northup stated: “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.”

What? Really? Now, at the state championship?  I don't care if I had to wrestle Lady Gaga I would do it to win a state championship!

And also,  it's ok to wrestle men? Like that's any less awkward than wrestling a female?

All of these are questions that won't be answered but it seems weird to me that he would just now realize this.

"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," Northup also stated.

Yea, no kidding, but they(girls) made it to state, they are used to it by now! They have handled the “violence” pretty well thus far dude.

Unfortunately without meaning to, I think Northup will open himself up to being called a lot of uncomfortable names and being teased about being afraid of a girl. I'm sure he's not afraid, but if he wasn't he should have wrestled.

Joseph Larsen

Community Contributor