Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who wrestles for Linn-Mar High School in Iowa, had a good chance at winning the Iowa State Wrestling Championship this year, but he gave that all up on Thursday before his first tournament match.
Why would someone who had a 35-4 record this season give up on his dreams of winning a state championship?
Well, Northrup's first opponent was a girl, and he doesn't believe it is right for a boy to wrestle a girl.
"Wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," Northrup said in a statement released by the school. "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 father, Jamie Northrup, told The Associated Press that his son struggled in making this decision.
"He's poured his heart and soul into wrestling and into being the best in the state," Jamie Northrup told the AP. "He's never won a state championship, so he's certainly looking forward to that day. So it's agonizing, from all the work and the effort and the hope.
"But it's easy in that, he, a long time ago, drew a line and said 'I don't believe it's right for a boy to wrestle a girl.'"
The girl that he wouldn't wrestle is Cassy Herkelman, a freshman from Cedar Falls. She is one of the first two girls to qualify for the tournament in its 85-year history.
Herkelman's father, Bill Herkelman, told the AP that he respects Northrup's decision.
"I sincerely respect the decision of the Northrup family, especially since it was made on the biggest stage in wrestling," Bill Herkelman said to the AP. "I have heard nothing but good things about the Northrup family and hope Joel does very well the remainder of the tourney."
Because Northrup defaulted rather than forfeitting, he is eligible to compete in the consolation rounds and won his first consolation match by a large margin.
When Northrup defaulted, Herkelman became the first girl to ever win a state wrestling tournament match. She moved on to the quarterfinals but lost that match on Friday.
Now, she will compete in the consolation bracket where Northrup is. Will religious beliefs stop Northrup from facing Herkelman for a second time if these two are matched up in the consolation round?
