Brendan Johnston, a former high school wrestler from Colorado, made a difficult decision back in 2018. He chose to forfeit two state tournament matches that were scheduled against girls. By doing so, he ended his high school wrestling career, standing by his religious and personal beliefs.
The debate about pitting adult males against adult females in physical competition is a topic discussed more often than ever before. Many people believe it’s unfair to make men and women compete against each other. There are significant biological and physical differences between the sexes, making the playing field uneven from the start.
Brendan, an 18-year-old senior at the Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, was uncomfortable with the idea of wrestling against Jaslynn Gallegos from Skyview High in the first round of the state tournament. He also chose not to take part in his third-round consolation match against Angel Rios from Valley High.
As a Christian, Brendan expressed his concerns about wrestling with a young lady. He explained, “It’s so physical, physically close. I don’t think that’s really appropriate… It’s also very aggressive, which I’m not comfortable with.” Brendan believes that men and women are different, but he still sees women as equal in value to men.
Due to Brendan’s decision not to wrestle against the two girls, he placed sixth in the tournament. Angel and Jaslynn, however, finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Jaslynn expressed her disappointment about Brendan’s decision in an interview with the Washington Post. She said, “I am just a wrestler, and the fact that my gender still holds me back is a little nerve-racking.”
It’s important to respect Brendan’s decision, even if not everyone agrees with it. Wrestling should be a fair and comfortable experience for all participants. Brendan’s beliefs led him to make a difficult choice, sacrificing the chance to compete further. Ultimately, Brendan stood by his convictions and stayed true to his faith.
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