High School Wrestler Withdraws from State Tournament upon Discovering Opponent’s Gender

Brendan Johnson, an 18-year-old high school wrestler from Colorado, made the decision to withdraw from a state competition upon learning who his opponent would be. Although Johnson cited his religious beliefs as the primary reason for forfeiting the matches, skeptics have raised doubts about his motives. The wrestler was scheduled to face off against female opponents and chose to abandon the matches rather than engage in physical combat with them.

Last month, Johnson withdrew from his scheduled match against Jaslynn Gallegos, a senior from Skyview High, in the preliminary round of the competition due to his refusal to compete against a woman. Later, when he was assigned to the consolation matches, he once again forfeited when faced with his third opponent, Angel Rios from Valley High.

Both of the female wrestlers Johnson forfeited against went on to compete in the tournament, with Angel Rios placing fourth and Jaslynn Gallegos securing fifth place overall.

Hailing from Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, Brendan Johnson’s decisions to forfeit effectively ended his high school wrestling career. He expressed that, in his view, it was preferable to lose by forfeit than to engage in combat with a female wrestler, as it contradicted his personal and religious beliefs.

Johnson identifies as a Christian and, in an interview with KDVR, he explained that being in such close physical proximity to a woman violated his faith. He expressed discomfort with the level of aggression and physicality involved in wrestling, particularly when it came to competing against a female opponent.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to engage in such physical closeness with a girl. It’s also very aggressive, and I’m not comfortable with that,” Johnson asserted.

Brendan was willing to elaborate on his perspectives regarding Christianity and wrestling during the interview with the news source. He expressed concerns that arose from a combination of his faith, upbringing, and personal experiences.

Johnson explained that the notion of wrestling with a girl deeply disturbs him, and this sentiment arises from his religious convictions and personal beliefs. Additionally, it is influenced by the values instilled in him regarding the treatment of women and may have been shaped by his diverse range of experiences.

While Johnson refused to wrestle against female opponents, he clarified that he did not see it as an issue of equality.

“I don’t perceive them as unequal. I acknowledge that they are women, which is different from being men because I believe that men and women are inherently different, created differently. However, I firmly believe that women are of equal worth to men. Recognizing the differences between men and women does not contradict the concept of equality,” Johnson emphasized.

Brandon’s decisions to forfeit sparked significant controversy, leading to an additional interview with The Denver Post. In this interview, he acknowledged that throughout his wrestling career, which began in seventh grade, he had never previously competed against a female wrestler.

“I also consider the physical aggression. I don’t want to engage in that kind of physicality with a girl, whether it’s on the mat or off it. I don’t intend to disrespect her heart or the effort she has put into the sport. Wrestling is something we do; it does not define us. There are more important priorities in my life,” Johnson revealed.

Jaslynn Gallegos, who started wrestling at the age of five, expressed her perspective on Brandon’s decision to withdraw from the matches due to her gender. In an interview with The Washington Post, she conveyed her feelings about his actions.

“Throughout my entire wrestling journey, I have been striving to prove that I am simply a wrestler,” she told the Post. “So, the fact that my gender continues to be a limiting factor is somewhat distressing, but I respect his decision. It’s fine. My stance