Have you heard about the young, female golfer in Idaho named Sierra Harr?  She is a 16 yr old attending school at Castleford High.  Two years ago, when she was a freshman, she easily won the girls’ state title by 6 strokes.  Last year, she played on the boys’ team and helped them capture the team state title.  Click on this link for her story.

So what’s the problem?  It seems that the IHSAA, the governing body for high school sports in Idaho, is considering a rule that would prevent Harr from playing with the boys.  After last years’ state matches, some opposing coaches have complained about Harr, and they want her only playing with the girls.

Harr would love to play on the girls’ team, but fewer than 3 came out last year and that’s not enough to fields a team.  So, because she is at a very small school in Idaho, she decided to play with the boys’ team.

I have no problem with what she is doing, and I hope and pray the IHSAA does the right thing and allows her to compete with the boys.  After all, girls are allowed to wrestle, and since Castleford doesn’t have a girls’ team, this is essentially the same thing.

As a Biology teacher, I need to state the obvious.  If a boy plays on a girls’ team, he is bigger, stronger, and faster than the girls, and he would have an obvious advantage.  However, this is not a two way street.  Anyone think a girl would have an advantage in football or wrestling?  How about golf? Does she have some advantage the guys do not?  No way.

Any coach who complained about Harr should look himself in the mirror and be ashamed.  So your team lost because a woman help beat them.  Man up and get over it.  She has no advantage in terms of strength; she just has a better grip and swing, and that’s fine and dandy.

This is the IHSAA’s chance to make a feel-good story continue.  It is also their chance to fumble the football and stop her from playing with the boys this spring.  Will they stop her, but let girls continue to wrestle?  The ball, as they say, is in their court.  Do the right thing, IHSAA, and put Harr’s golf ball in play….with the guys.   It is the right thing to do.