What Would You Do?!? - Wrasslin' A Girl.

I don't hit women. Period. It's just how I was raised, and since I've been conditioned this way for so long, it's unlikely I could change my stance on this. Now, shaking a woman, that's a whole nother' story altogether.[1]

Skip to the 2:00 mark, just in case you've never seen this.



That said, since I never wrestled, I can't say how I'd handle the prospect of having to faceoff against a girl in the squared circle.

A standout Iowa high school wrestler refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament on Thursday, relinquishing any chance of becoming a champion because he says wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs.

Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High School this season, praised his first-round opponent, Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman, and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who became the first two girls to make the state wrestling tournament in its 85-year history.

But in a news release, he said he defaulted on his match with Herkelman because he doesn't think boys and girls should compete in the sport.

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," said Northrup. "As a matter of conscience and my 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."

Tournament organizers declined to make Herkelman available for questions. She entered the tournament with a 20-13 record and will wrestle Friday in the quarterfinals of the 112-pound weight class.

Northrup's father, Jamie Northrup, is a minister in the Believers in Grace Fellowship, an independent Pentecostal church in Marion that believes young men and women shouldn't touch in a "familiar way," said Bill Randles, the church's pastor.

Wrestling is apparently a really, really big deal in the state of Iowa, something I'm sure Molly can fill us in on. But since this story broke, it's been all over the place, and I can't help but wonder what ya'll think about it.

Question: What Would You Do?!? Should this kid have fought the girl, or did he who the right thing my standing on his principles?

[1] It's a joke, folks. If you're clueless, just watch the whole clip.