Both his opponents, Rios and Gallegos, made history after becoming the first females to place at the tournament. Rios placed fourth and Gallegos placed fifth.
Speaking to The Greeley Tribune, Rios commented the match Brendan forfeited and said she understood his decision and respected it but questioned why any wrestler, of any gender, would decide to forfeit in the state tournament after making it so far.
“This whole time that I’ve wrestled, it’s just me trying to prove a point that I am just a wrestler,” she told the Washington Post at the time.
“And so the fact that my gender is something that kind of holds me back still is just a little nerve-racking, but I respect his decision. It’s fine.
“My whole thing is that I’m not a girl wrestler; I’m just a wrestler. So it kind of doesn’t hurt my feelings, but I do kind of take it to heart.”
