Boy who won't wrestle a girl

CNN recently reported about a boy who forfeited a wrestling match because he didn't feel comfortable wrestling a girl. The boy told the press he religious beliefs prevented him from engaging in the sport with her.

There are so many ways this story could have been slanted: it could have gone the sexist route, the religious fanatic route, or many others.

Instead, it was a straightforward story about a boy who held to his beliefs, even when it meant giving up something important to him.

I was impressed with this boy. I would think many others would jump at the chance to put their hands all over a girl.

It also brought to mind that this kid is thinking at a much deeper level than I was at his age. You see, I tried to get on to my high school wrestling team. Not because I wanted to wrestle mind you, I was quite happy on the varsity soccer team, but because I wanted to harass the school and push boundaries.

The coach told me the only way he would let me play is if I wore the uniform like the boys do. Which in retrospect was a horrible thing to say and deserving of a lawsuit, but all that is passed now that schools are allowing girls to do the "boy" sports. I also tried to get on the hockey team, which about three years after I graduated they started for girls.

As an adult, I am not sure I feel about boys and girls playing on the same team. The same sport, yes, both genders can learn and grow playing a variety of games, but on the same team...leaning toward no.

No matter what they tell you, boys and girls are different. I have one of both. I have seen this in action.

Especially in high school. The differences in where muscles develop first — boys are typically much stronger in the upper body at that age — and this CNN boy was probably right to step away himself.

Even if he wouldn't have hurt her, which was part of his concern, he would not have been able to preform is best when worried about it, and it isn't fair in competition to give less than your best.