HS wrestler wimps out, won't wrestle girl

This guy was a front runner in his weight class, but defaulted in his first tournament match...because his opponent was a girl.

Linky

Is this kid for real, or what? He's lucky his coach didn't kick his ass off the team.

 

^ Some call it conviction, I call it chickening out.

 

^ He was afraid to wrestle a girl, obviously. What else would it be?

"I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner." What the hell is this, 1950?

Then again, he is homeschooled. Guess that explains it.

 

What possible 'parameters' could there be? The facts are clearly laid out. The kid defaulted when he learned his opponent was a girl. What else do you need? There's no logical reason to do this; athletes in any sport do what their coaches tell them. If this kid's lucky enough to not get kicked off the team, then fine, but he really dodged a bullet on that one.

 

So... his personal beliefs are being mocked. Mature.

 

I am sorry, I didn't mean to sound mocking. It all just sounds kind of sexist, though.

But if this kid is willing to risk that, then he does indeed have guts.

 

dude . . . the derision is uncalled for.
The kid showed humility, integrity, and respect for his opponent.
I would have done the same.

sure, a boy and a girl can be equally matched physically, and emotionally, but I still wouldn't feel right throwing the same aggression at a girl that I would throw at a guy
I think it's a deeply rooted societal evolutionary trait that shouldn't necessarily be thrown away. We need to respect our differences, not pursue equality at all costs.

 

^ But this is wrestling we're talking about. Aggression is normal. If it's so unusual for boys to wrestle girls, why is it even allowed at all?

 

I'm an old fashioned twentysomething. I just don't think it's right.

 

Would it really be any different if the issue was race and not gender? I seem to remember this being a problem after Jackie Robinson made the major leagues (at least one team threatened to strike over that). Would it have been so principled for opposing teams to refuse to play against a team which had a black player?

 

Hey, some of those girls are capable of totally mangling your shit. I think he made the smart call

 

If I were a healthy teenager in that young man's position, I'd refuse to wrestle a girl because I'd be afraid I might get an erection.

Unless the girl is really butt-ugly.

Seriously, mixed-sex wrestling belongs in the realm of novelty entertainment and internet porn.

 

I sympathize with the thought process here, but I find it very misguided. If I were her, I'd be insulted.

This was a sporting event open to boys and girls. The one thing he most certainly did not do was show respect for his opponent. By denying her a fair match, he only served to belittle her and imply that he regarded her as a lesser or weaker opponent.

 

No worse, an unworthy opponent. This reminds me of Iranian athletes refusing to compete with Israelis. If the tournament rules allow women to compete he should get over himself and do it, or stop wrestling completely.