Thursday, February 17, 2011

OSG High: Iowa HS Match Forfeited To Girl

((HT: KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Iowa))

It was the Class 3A opening rounder at 112 pounds, and Linn-Mar's ((IA)) Joel Northrup forfeited to Cedar Falls High's ((IA)) Cassy Herkelman, Iowa’s first female state qualifier in the tournament.

Northrup released a statement that said in part: “However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. As a matter of conscience and my faith, I do not believe 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 is home-schooled by his mother, Sara, and his father, Jamie, is a minister at Believers in Grace, which is a non-denominational church in the Iowa town of Marion.

Northrup was forced to take the mat to forfeit directly to Herkelman to remain eligible in the consolation round. It's part of wrestling protocol to take the mat. He wasn't being called out because of his act.

Here's the forfeit...


The Cedar Rapids Gazette's KJ Pilcher was talked to about the act on the mat on KCRG's noon news program...

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