Wrestling....can it really be a co-ed sport??

So I was watching the news yesterday and I saw a story on a male wrestler in some high school state finals who refused to wrestle another girl in the tournament who was in his weight class.  I know in many movies we have seen that this happened because the guy is afraid he will lose to a girl, but this boy claimed that it was against his religious beliefs to wrestle a girl.  I'm not quite sure if I believe his story, but I guess who could argue with that politically correct statement.  The thing that bothered me most was the people who were commenting on the story.  There was a male commenting on the story who was talking about how he didn't think it was right for him to deny his opponent no matter if she was male or female, and he thought it was because he was scared that a girl might beat him which would be a huge blow to his ego.  There was also a woman who was debating with this idea saying she didn't feel it was fair fight and that the girl had the advantage because  the guy was going to have to think about how he was "putting a girl in a head lock" and how society thinks we shouldn't do that to "pristine" women who are "dainty" and "lady like."  I just don't understand why this woman was not sticking up for the girl to be a part of the sport.  The girl chose to put herself in the position to be put in a head lock, and clearly she is pretty good at it to get to the state finals.  She worked so hard and its almost like she took one step forward for girls all over, and this woman is not sticking up for her pursuing her dreams because she is wrapped up in these social norms.  What do you guys think about any of this...is if fair for her to compete?....is it fair for her to be denied due to religious beliefs?....were any of the broad casters in the wrong?...