High Schooler Forfeits Final Match In Wrestling Championship After Learning Of His Opponent

Oct 19, 2023

Over time, the issue of gender equity in sports often sparks heated debates, especially in the area of physical strength. The topic of merging male and female competitors during sports competitions begs the question of whether the counterparts are at par regarding their physicality. However, some people see no need for gender disparity so long as the contenders are professionals. With this in mind, some athletes are bound to opt out of competitions if they align with the former ideology.

This was, in fact, what The Classical Academy (TCA ) high school senior Brendan Johnston did during his time as a competitor at the Colorado High School Activities Association State Wrestling Tournament in 2019. Johnston was to compete in what happened to be the last leg of the regional wrestling competition, which is open to male and female contestants, alongside Valley High junior wrestler Angel Rios. However, towards the beginning of the match, he opted out, leaving Rios as the ultimate qualifier at the state level. Johnston's decision was influenced by his personal and religious beliefs. 

While Johnston felt it was the right thing to do, his female counterpart, Rios, was surprised by his decision. Leading up to the final lap of the tournament, Rios was a passionate wrestling lover since childhood by virtue of her family’s love for combat sports. Her brothers all wrestled while her dad played a key role in nurturing them. As a young girl, Rios constantly begged her dad to let her wrestle with the boys, and when he finally agreed, he told her never to give up. In 2017, she won a Gold Medal in the Cadet Pan-Am Games, and by 2019, she was ready to join her male counterparts at the state level. 

When Rios was to compete with the TCA champion, Johnston, his decision to put his values before the sport became evident. During the third round of the Class 3A consolation rounds, Johnston briefly discussed with his coach, Sean Collins, before heading towards the official in charge. In retrospect, he forfeited his spot in the games, leaving Rios as the winner and qualifier for the state tournament. Speaking on his reason, the youngster shared with The Denver Post: 

“I’m not really comfortable with a couple of things with wrestling a girl,” Johnston explained. “The physical contact, there’s a lot of it in wrestling. He continued, “Wrestling is something we do, it’s not who we are. And there are more important things to me than my wrestling. And I’m willing to have those priorities.”

Johnston added that he was okay with his decision, noting that his identity “lies elsewhere.” After learning of the development, Rios was not impressed, but she respected her fellow contender’s decision. She noted, “It’s his decision and I understand that if it’s against his religion. I have no control over the situation, so if that’s what he chooses to do then that’s on him I guess.”

Amid the tournament, Rios was not the only female competitor Johnston declined to fight with. He had earlier forfeited his match with Skyview High senior wrestler Jaslynn Gallegos in the first round of the Class 3A 106-pound bracket. Unlike Rios, Gallegos “kind of” took it to heart. Per the Washington Post, she relayed, “My whole thing is that I’m not a girl wrestler; I’m just a wrestler.”

She and Rios would go on to spar with other male contenders at the Boys Wrestling State Tournament. The girls made history in the fourth and fifth positions. Rios became the first female to finish top four in the competition.

What are your thoughts on Brendan Johnston’s decision to forfeit the competition despite getting to the finals? Do you think male and female athletes should be allowed to compete without gender coming into play? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to others.