Letter: Female wrestler broke barriers
HAUPPAUGE, NY, MARCH 12, 2011: Coach Chris Messina, from Hauppauge High School uses the SteriLaser" a machine used to sterilize the matts used in wrestling between matches at Hauppauge High School in Hauppauge, NY, March 12, 2011 Photo by Ed Betz Credit: NEWSDAY/Ed Betz
As a retired wrestling coach who had a girl on the team for four years (two years on varsity), I must take exception to the points made by the letter writer about girls on boys wrestling teams ["Split on boy and field hockey," Letters, May 4].
The writer seemed concerned about the potential sexual nature of the competition. Yes, we tell our boys not to touch girls in "certain places." The female wrestler I coached never once complained that she was touched inappropriately by her teammates or opponents. Nor did anyone tell me that they were touched inappropriately by her.
The writer also believes that if a boy lost a match to a girl, he would be considered a "wimp," and that if he beat a girl, he would be called a "bully/molester/creep."
The young lady I coached did beat some boys and place in some tournaments. Those boys did continue to wrestle after that. Yes, she did lose to boys, but no one thought of them as bullies or perverts. They were just competing against another wrestler.
The writer also stated that most boys would choose not to wrestle against a girl. In the four years that she competed, there was only one time when a boy refused to step on the mat with her.
When this young lady first came out for the team, I was very skeptical. It did not take long for her to change my opinion. She stood toe to toe with the boys and did everything I expected all of the wrestlers to do. Her teammates did not go easy on her or deliberately rough her up in practice because she was a girl.
This young female wrestler broke down barriers. No one thought of her competing against boys in a sexual context. She was respected by her teammates, opponents and other coaches because she was a wrestler.
Richard Rosener, Blue Point
Editor's note: The writer is a retired wrestling coach from Bay Shore High School.
