He Gave Up His Final Season Rather Than Wrestle a Girl — Was He Right?
This one still gets people arguing, and honestly, I get why.
In 2019, Brendan Johnston was 18, a senior at The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs. He’d worked his whole high school career to get to the state tournament. Then his bracket came up. First match: Jaslynn Gallegos. Later, Angel Rios. Both girls.
He forfeited. Twice. And just like that, his high school wrestling career was over. He didn’t place. He knew that going in.
Why? He said it plainly himself. His Christian faith, how he was raised. He didn’t think it was right to be that physical, that aggressive, with a young lady on the mat. “It’s so physical, physically close. I don’t think that’s really appropriate with a young lady.” His words, not mine.
Now here’s what I think. You don’t have to agree with him to respect what that cost him. He gave up his senior season, his shot at placing, for something he believed. That’s not the easy choice. The easy choice was wrestling.
And here’s the part people forget. Gallegos and Rios went on to finish 5th and 4th. The first girls ever to place at that tournament. Gallegos even said she understood his decision. She said she’s a wrestler, not a “girl wrestler.” She’s right too.
So yeah. Two things can be true at once. He stood by his beliefs. And those girls earned their place on that podium.
What would you have done in his spot?
