Iowa girl wins a state wrestling match by forfeit

[Politically_Incorrect12]

rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/For-first-time-Iowa-girl-wins-a-state-wrestling?urn=highschool-322846

On Thursday, a girl won a match at the most historic high school state wrestling tournament in the country, but she did so in an even more unusual and controversial way than most had imagined possible.

According to the Cedar Rapids Metro Sports Report, Des Moines Register and Associated Press, among other outlets, Cassy Herkelman, one of two girls who qualified for the Iowa state wrestling tournament, won the opening match in her Class 3-A, 112-pound classification by forfeit when her scheduled opponent, Joel Northrup, officially reported and withdrew from the bout, earning a loss but ensuring he could continue to participate in later matches at the tournament.

Northrup, a sophomore at Lin-Mar (Iowa) High, cited his personal faith as the motivating force for his forfeit. The withdrawal ensures he can finish no higher than third at the tournament, which follows his third-place finish in the 103-pound classification as a freshman.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan [Black] and their accomplishments," Northrup said in a statement given to the media following his official forfeit. "However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times.

"As a matter of conscience and 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."

There is more to the article for those interested.

[chiver78]

default, not forfeit. not really sure what the difference is, but the article I read took care to point that out. I guess he can compete in the consolation bracket because it wasn't a forfeit.

[TheOtherMe]

I get the Cedar Rapids tv stations. Technically, he did a medical default. If he had forfeited, he could not have wrestled in the consolation matches.

[dmsm]

He also said it was against his religion to wrestle a girl. Where would one find that in the bible?

[TheOtherMe]

The young lady is now going to get a place in the Dan Gable Wrestling Hall of Fame.