A high school female wrestler has accused her transgender opponent of an inappropriate act during a wrestling match in Washington state.
Callie Keeler, 16, a wrestler at Rogers High School in Puyallup, alleged that the incident occurred during a match against Emerald Ridge High School on December 6.
Keeler claimed that while she was face down on the mat, her opponent, who identifies as a woman, placed a hand between her legs and attempted to insert his fingers, as discussed by “The Undivided” host Brandi Kruse.
Keeler expressed shock, telling Kruse that this sort of thing had never happened in her years of wrestling.
“I was like, ‘Wait, what? What the hell does that mean?'” she said, recalling her confusion and desire just to finish the match.
She initially didn’t realize her opponent was a boy claiming to be a girl and stated that no one had warned her before the match.
“I didn’t really know what to think. It’s a women’s wrestling team, so I wasn’t really focused on it,” she noted.
Keeler mentioned that she learned shortly after the match that her opponent was male. She reported the incident to her coach, expressing discomfort, and received a vague assurance that the matter would be looked into. Following this, her parents contacted school officials to voice their concerns.
“This is a huge problem and absolutely unacceptable,” Keeler’s mother wrote to the school, emphasizing her discontent with the situation, particularly regarding the biological aspect of her opponent’s identity.
The wrestling coach assured the parents, “If I thought Callie was competing against a man, I would never put her on the mat. I’ll check for any video evidence and get back to you soon.”
However, it’s doubtful that any action will follow. State laws permit transgender individuals to compete in categories of their choosing without restrictions.
No action was taken by either school concerning the allegations until January 9, when Kruse inquired about the status of the incident.
On January 30, the school district issued a statement indicating the matter is currently under investigation, while highlighting the confidentiality of student information and the importance of safety.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office also announced that it had initiated its own investigation.
Earlier this year, female students at Emerald High complained about the presence of two males identifying as females in their locker room, yet little action was seen from school authorities.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education reportedly began inquiries into several school districts in Washington state after complaints regarding transgender students in girls’ facilities.
“With the Supreme Court discussing Title IX, we are diligently investigating allegations of discrimination against women and sports policies allowing men to compete as women,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Ritchie stated, asserting the ongoing fight for women’s rights.
Investigations by the Department of Education are also underway in several other states.
