Dylan Geick is a high school senior making waves in the competitive wrestling scene not only for his incredible athleticism, but also for his bravery to publicly come out as gay.
As the face of the Adlai E. Stevenson High School wrestling team for over two years, Dylan embodied all of the ideals of a successful (straight) athlete: strong, masculine, tough, scrappy, agile, and fit. So when he came out to his close friends at lunch one day, word spread like wildfire, shocking his classmates, his teammates, and even his coach.
“Some people could have been uncomfortable if they knew they were wrestling someone who was gay,” Geick told Statesman, the student news publication of Stevenson High. “But what they don’t understand is that this is a sport and is completely removed from that.”
Luckily for Geick (and maybe humanity on a larger level), Geick’s teammates embraced him whole-heartedly.
He continued:
"It just so happened that all of those kids, even those who maybe had a homophobic view before, were able to see past that, and are still my friends, and we are much closer even now."
With a boyfriend on his arm, and a scholarship to Columbia University to wrestle, Dylan has a bright future ahead of him—one that doesn’t include any negativity.
A soccer ball on the field.Tony Quinn/Shutterstock
Two players on the soccer field.Anton Vierietin/Shutterstock
Angel City FC Pride Unisex Protect Trans Lives Short Sleeve White T-Shirt for sale on the official Angel City FC website.
Queer Unrivaled players Paige Bueckers, Alyssa Thomas, and Courtney Williams with Natisha Hiedeman.
Lesbian and sapphic athletes celebrating with their partners.Footage still via Instagram @redrosesrugby; Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images; Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
