Judge says Pa. girl wrestler allowed on boys’ team
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. >> A federal judge is allowing a central Pennsylvania seventh-grader to be a member of the all-boys wrestling team at her middle school.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann says in a ruling Monday that the Line Mountain School District failed to justify its reasons for preventing girls from wrestling with boys.
The school district says there are psychological, physical and moral risks for girls wrestling boys, but Brann says the district did not present any expert testimony or examples to support those claims.
Brian and Angie Beattie of Herndon filed a lawsuit last year, saying their daughter Audriana was being denied the opportunity to wrestle because of her gender.
The girl’s attorneys, Terry Fromson and Abbe Fletman, issued a statement praising the judge’s decision.