Catholic Church Sets New Precedent For Co-Ed Contact Sports
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For Catholic high schools in Philadelphia, men and women competing in contact sports has been a no-no. That rule meant a potentially career-ending forfeit for one local athlete this weekend.
That was the case, until a surprising change of heart.
It's a good thing that Father Judge High School wrestling coach Jim Savage hasn't let up on training. Recently, it seemed certain that one of his guys would not be able to participate in this weekend's PIAA postseason match.
"Tim's a 100-match winner," Savage said. "He'll be going for his third district title this week. He's got a 4.0 GPA and is tenth in his class."
The problem is that Catholic high school athletes are not allowed to wrestle co-ed and at 106 pounds, Tim McCall's scheduled opponent was freshman female, Tatiana Ortiz from Mariana Bracetti Charter School.
Regulation would require McCall to forfeit.
The rule was determined in 2014 when bishops across the state agreed that the teachings of the Catholic Church did not coincide with co-ed sports that involved "potentially immodest physical contact."
Eyewitness News reached out to the Philadelphia Archdiocese earlier in the week and prompted this surprising response:
"The decision to take part in any post season individual championship PIAA wrestling match will be at the discretion of the individual student and his parents." - Kevin Gavin, Archdiocese of Philadelphia Spokesperson
That means McCall CAN wrestle Ortiz after all.
"I'm just glad I have a chance to compete," McCall said. "It's important."
It is perhaps more important that he knows. A precedent has now been set by the Catholic Church when it comes to contact sports.