Monday, February 5, 2007

Wheaton High School wrestling coach Dave Moquin's remarks regarding the detrimental effect that girls are having on his ability to build his program ["Girls Who Want to Join the Team Find a Welcome Mat," Sports, Jan. 25] revealed a prejudice.

Mr. Moquin, whose junior varsity team includes two girls, complained that "it's like having a kid in AP classes who is not qualified to be in there and doesn't do well on the tests. They're challenging themselves, but they are taking away from our teaching abilities."

The coach seems to feel that if a girl cannot make the varsity, she shouldn't be going out for the team at all. Does he apply this same logic to his male wrestlers? If so, why have a junior varsity team at all?

He claimed that the girls work extremely hard but that they are not helping him build a program. Just what is this program built for if not for wrestlers who come ready to learn and work hard?

SUSAN SYMINGTON

Bethesda