11.15.2004:Male Wrestling Coaches Afraid Boys Will Lose

from  Milaukee Journal Sentinel:

 

Bobbi Roquemore   |

Wrestling has always been known as a sport that twists and stretches the body into awkward positions.

So when the topic turns to girls participating at the high school level, the discussion can be just as awkward.

About 30 girls across the state wrestle for their high school varsity teams in a given season. Aside from the usual matters such as separate locker rooms and a consistent lack of suitable opponents of the same gender, many interesting concerns arise for both genders.

One one hand, this is 2003, and almost everyone now recognizes the ability of girls to thrive in previously all-male activities, such as soccer, hockey and (gasp!) sportswriting.

On the other hand, this is 2003, and one thing seems to have not changed: the male's attitude to losing to a female in sports competition.

Local coaches cited the possibility of a damaged ego as a reason to avoid coed wrestling.

"I don't care for coed wrestling too much," Wilmot coach John Watson said. "It puts vulnerable young boys in a no-win situation. If they beat the girl, they don't get any credit. If the lose to the girl, they're going to get ridden a little bit."