Northrup defaults to Iowa’s first female state qualifier

[Sigaba]

This story is generating a lot of editorials and debate in the blogosphere. Below is one of the more balanced accounts that I have found. [It is slightly modified from its original version as it clearly 'went to press' without getting that last editorial scrub.] Source is here.

Northrup defaults to Iowa’s first female state qualifier

February 17th, 2011

DES MOINES – After days of speculation, Linn-Mar’s Joel Northrup sacrificed a chance to compete for a state wrestling title instead of wrestling Iowa’s first female state tournament qualifier.

The controversial decision had the crowd of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A state tournament buzzing Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena.

Northrup and Cedar Falls’ Cassy Herkelman reported to the mat for their 112-pound first-round match, but only Herkelman stepped to the center where Linn-Mar Coach Doug Streicher motioned his wrestler would not compete. The action was met with boos from the crowd.

Linn-Mar Athletics Director Scott Mahmens provided a prepared statement from Northrup.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for (Cassy) and (Megan) and their accomplishments,” Northrup said in the news release. “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 was a state title contender. He was 38-4 last year placing third at 103 pounds as a freshman. Northrup is ranked fifth with a 35-4 record. 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 Marion.

Mahmens was asked about Northrup’s feeling about the decision.

“I’m sure it was hard for him,” said Mahmens, who was asked about Northrup giving up an opportunity for a state title. “Obviously, his beliefs are more important to him.”

The moments leading up to the historic event were filled with anxiety for Herkelman’s father, Bill, who was in the section directly in front of the mat.

“It was nerve-wracking,” Bill Herkelman said. “Coach (Wil Kelly) did a good job. He kept her downstairs to warm-up instead of getting all the attention of the media. She came out and we didn’t know until that very last moment that Joel Northrup was going to default to her.”

Herkelman left the mat and had to be brought back by a tournament official to sign the bout sheet, mandatory by the winning wrestler. Then she left the arena floor and didn’t return. Bill Herkelman seemed somewhat empathetic toward the decision Northrup made and didn’t let it cloud the fact his daughter was the first female to win a match in the 86 years of the IHSAA state tournament.

“I respect their decision. I would never second-guess that choice, but I’m still shaking. It’s a win. It’s not an ordinary win or a typical win, but she’s moving onto the next round.”

She will face Indianola sophomore Matt Victor (34-10). Herkelman (21-13) is one match away from reaching the awards stand with a top-eight finish, which would also be a first in Iowa.

Bill Herkelman is staying at the same hotel as many of the Linn-Mar supporters. He said he would like to meet the Northrup family.

“I’d like to see his father and meet him because I applaud them for holding onto their convictions,” Herkelman said. “Even on a big stage like this. That’s something that takes a lot of guts. A lot of people may second-guess it, but your convictions have to be your convictions.”

Otherwise, many of the individuals involved are staying tight-lipped about the situation. Mahmens asked that Northrup be left alone, because he would not have any further comment on the situation. Streicher also declined comment. IHSAA Assistant Executive Director Alan Beste, who oversees wrestling, said he had no comment, but spoke briefly on behalf of Herkelman and Ottumwa’s Megan Black, another female who qualified for the 112 field in 3A. Females have been wrestling on Iowa programs for the last 20 years and 39 were reportedly competing this year, according to the IHSAA.

“The girls and their coaches have said they just assume not give any interviews now,” Beste said to a swarm of media. “Either wait until they’re eliminated or until they’re in the medal round, if they advance that far.”

Northrup, however, will get a chance to wrestle again. Due to reporting to the mat, he was able to remain eligible for competition in the consolation bracket. Mahmens said he will continue to wrestle, but that might change if he meets up against Herkelman in the consolations. Northrup beat Glenwood’s Sam Jameson, 9-0, in a first round consolation.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Mahmens said. “Then we’ll have another statement.”

Mahmens said he could not say when the decision was made, but it was a family decision. The Northrups have the full support from the school.

“We’re going to back our student-athletes no matter what it is,” Mahmens said. “It’s a family decision based on their beliefs.”

Linn-Mar qualified eight wrestlers to the state tournament and had high expectations of a strong finish in the team standings. Northrup’s default hurt that, but that was not brought up in the discussions between the Northrup’s and Linn-Mar administration.

“He’s a wrestler from Linn-Mar,” Mahmens said. “We’re going to support what he’s doing and we’ll move on from there.”

Mahmens said no one tried to persuade Northrup to wrestle, whether it was to avoid the attention or to help the team.

“We told him if he didn’t wrestle what would happen,” said Mahmens, noting the media attention.

Beste said he was not contacted by the family and didn’t consider redrawing the bracket.

“We did not know he was going to do that until he stepped out on the mat,” Beste said.

The interesting fact is that Black took the very same mat immediately after Herkelman. She became the first Iowa female to compete in a state match, losing by fall to Bettendorf’s Logan Ryan. She then lost her wrestleback and was eliminated with a 25-15 mark.

“It’s a great feeling to feel that they respect me enough to wrestle me,” Black said. “They’re great wrestlers. They did a great job.”

Black was “somewhat” bothered by Northrup’s decision to forfeit to her female counterpart, but she respected his decision.

“Myself, thinking myself as another wrestler, it kind of bothers me,” Black said. “At least he’s being strong in his beliefs.”

I would have preferred an outcome that saw Mr. Northrup finding a way to observe his beliefs while still wrestling Ms. Herkleman.

YMMV.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

I would have preferred an outcome that saw Mr. Northrup finding a way to observe his beliefs while still wrestling Ms. Herkleman.

I would have preferred having him tap her out with a rear naked choke in 7 seconds of the first round.

[The Reaper]

Both female wrestlers lost both of their next matches and have been eliminated.

TR

[Surgicalcric]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

...I would have preferred an outcome that saw Mr. Northrup finding a way to observe his beliefs while still wrestling Ms. Herkleman.

YMMV.

I am sure Mr Northrup would have preferred to not forfeit as well. His beliefs are his beliefs though and I applaud him for not wavering.

Wrestling females is difficult to say the least, if you have an aversion to treating them like a man...

My sophomore year of HS a girl made the wrestling team (112# weight class). I remember being briefed that there would be no strikes to or in the area of her face but that our face was fair game for her. None of us listened; if she wanted to compete in our world she would have to do so by the same rules which applied to us. She made it one season and went back to track having had her nose broken while in a match with a guy wrestling up class from 103...

Crip

[lindy]

Originally Posted by Surgicalcric

My sophomore year of HS a girl made the wrestling team (112# weight class). I remember being briefed that there would be no strikes to or in the area of her face but that our face was fair game for her. None of us listened; if she wanted to compete in our world she would have to do so by the same rules which applied to us. She made it one season and went back to track having had her nose broken while in a match with a guy wrestling up class from 103...

Crip

Was she hot? (I'm only askin' what everyone was thinkin'.)

[Surgicalcric]

Very HOT...very hot indeed.

Filled out a singlet very well....

Crip

[lindy]

Originally Posted by Surgicalcric

My sophomore year of HS a girl made the wrestling team (112# weight class). I remember being briefed that there would be no strikes to or in the area of her face...

Seems like this was to be your first experience with ROE and your coach was trying to give you guys a hint.

You and PP1 be safe.

[Dusty]

I have four grown daughters. Thankfully, none ever came up to me and said, "Whee, dawggies, Paw! I wanna be a champeen rassler, jes' lak Ellie Mae!"

[Surgicalcric]

Originally Posted by lindy

Seems like this was to be your first experience with ROE and your coach was trying to give you guys a hint.

You and PP1 be safe.

He was trying to cover the administrations ass, not get the job done. Ohh wait, it is the same.

Being safe isnt in my nature O...

[Mack27]

This is an interesting subject for me, since I actually wrestled at Linn-Mar HS, same school as Northrup. I wrestled for Doug Streicher, the coach, who was also an All-American wrestler under Dan Gable at Iowa. Linn-Mar is a great program and they consistently do well at State tourney. This year they placed 15th, and Northrup was eliminated in his second consolation round match, after 3 overtime periods.

Although I graduated awhile ago, I still stay in contact with the coaches and go into the wrestling room when I'm home around Christmas time. I never met Northrup, and I'm sure it was a hard decision for him, and respect him for standing to his religious beliefs. But, if it were me, I'd have a hard time defaulting at the state tournament. Luckily for me, I never had to wrestle a girl on the mat. My teammates and I always viewed it as a lose-lose situation. If you wrestled a girl and won by a lot, you were viewed as "beating up" on a girl that wasn't very good. If you won by a close margin, you would be dogged by the rest of your teammates as almost losing to a girl. The last option is you lose to a girl, and never live that down; so I can see why someone would not want to wrestle a girl.

Hopefully next year he goes to state and doesn't get in that situation again. He seems like he has a promising career ahead of him.

Mack

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by Mack27

My teammates and I always viewed it as a lose-lose situation. Mack

Ditto that! But my teammates and I thought the real risk was a vascular response to something too much like a backseat take-down on Friday night at the Submarine Races.

[Penn]

In consideration of those who believe that this Spartan sport should promote/allow co-ed participation, I disagree. My opinion is socio-political, and based in the very fundamental experience of parenthood: One son, three daughters. I cannot imagine the impact of encouraging that behavior, all be controlled, aggression within the family structure, or supporting a sports program in their school, it presents a contradiction within the community.

One of the basic responsibilities of the education system is to promote, instill, imprint and transfer culture, our cultural standards. How does allowing young girls to compete against age/weight peers benefit women rights. How does it not erode the respect we demand in our society for women and condemn other societies for?

Conditioning is a concept fully understood here, it is in fact, the base behavior which assures success, how is it that we are failing to see the long term results of condoning this? I am surprised, knowing how important respect is as an inherent feature within this sub-culture.