There is always a significant amount of respect to be gained for standing firm in your beliefs or giving up something for the sake of your faith.
Brendan Johnston, a former high school wrestler from Colorado, understands this well. In 2018, he reportedly forfeited at least two matches in the state tournament that were scheduled against female opponents.
By doing this, he effectively concluded his high school wrestling career, citing his personal and religious beliefs as the reason for declining to participate in those matches.
The topic of competing against adult males and females in physical sports is one that seems to be more frequently discussed today than ever before.
Generally, most people feel that it is unjust to have men and women compete against each other. The two genders differ significantly in many aspects, especially biologically, which means the competition is not level from the start.
Regardless, 18-year-old Brendan Johnson was not pleased with the idea of wrestling against Jaslynn Gallegos from Skyview High in the first round of the 2018 state tournament. At that time, Brendan was a senior at the Classical Academy in Colorado Springs and also chose not to compete against Angel Rios from Valley High in his third-round consolation match.
In an interview with KDVR, Brendan, who identifies as Christian, expressed: “It’s so physical, physically close. I don’t think that’s really appropriate with a young lady. It’s also very aggressive and I’m not really, I guess, comfortable with that.”
He went on to say: “I find the concept of wrestling with a girl to be quite troubling, and part of that stems from my faith and beliefs.
“Additionally, my upbringing on how to treat women and various experiences have influenced this perspective.
“I don’t view them as inferior. I acknowledge that they are women, which is distinct from being men, as I truly believe that men and women are inherently different and created in unique ways.
“I firmly believe that women hold equal value to men. I don’t think that recognizing the differences between men and women contradicts the concept of equality.”
Due to Brendan’s choice not to compete against the two girls, he ended up in sixth place, while Angel and Jaslynn secured fourth and fifth places respectively.
However, Jaslynn felt let down by Brendan’s decision to skip a possible match. In an interview with the Washington Post at that time, she expressed: “Throughout my wrestling journey, I’ve been trying to demonstrate that I am simply a wrestler.
“It’s a bit unsettling that my gender still seems to be a barrier, but I respect his choice. It’s all good.
For more details on Brendan’s significant decision, click here:
“My main point is that I’m not just a girl wrestler; I’m simply a wrestler. So, it doesn’t really upset me, but I do take it somewhat personally.”
What are your thoughts on Brendan’s choice to decline wrestling a female? Share your opinions in the comments section. In the meantime, if you found this article engaging, take a look at the one below for additional insights!
