Latest news with #VHSL
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Photos: Great Bridge defeats Princess Anne in PKs
Great Bridge defeated Princess Anne in penalty kicks in the VHSL Class 5 Region A quarterfinals at Great Bridge Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia, on May 28, 2025.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia prepares to finalize transgender athlete restrictions
(Stock photo by) A heated fight over transgender athlete participation in Virginia schools is coming to a head this week, as state high school sports leaders prepare to finalize controversial new restrictions — despite mounting pressure from advocates urging them to reconsider. On Wednesday, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Executive Committee will meet for the first time since voting nearly two months ago to limit competition in girls' sports to students assigned female at birth, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. Previously, VHSL policy allowed transgender students to compete on teams aligning with their gender identity, though under specific conditions. The expected would formalize changes to the league's handbook and policy manual. 'It is not too late for the Virginia High School League to find clarity and courage and to return to an inclusive policy that is sound, both ethically and legally,' said Auden Perino, senior counsel for LGBTQI+ equality at the National Women's Law Center. Perino said the February decision has caused 'emotional harm' to students and their families. While the change impacts only a small number of students, they emphasized that does not make the issue any less important. The push for the policy change has largely been driven by concerns around fair competition. In February, Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the committee's decision 'just common sense' after appearing alongside Trump when he signed the executive order threatening to cut federal funds for those that don't comply. 'Biological boys should not be competing against girls,' Youngkin wrote on social media. Victoria Cobb, president of the conservative group Family Foundation, said in a statement that it's 'high time' for the Virginia High School League to do right by girls and protect their safety. 'Participation in sports develops girls into confident leaders,' Cobb said. 'When girls step away from the arena because biological boys steal their titles and scholarships, everyone loses.' However, Perino also pointed out that the 'real threat' to high school sports is the chronic underfunding of women's athletics and the widespread, often unreported harassment and assault cases affecting athletes — issues the NWLC has been tracking for over 50 years. 'These are the real threats to girls involved in school sports,' Perino said. 'Obviously, trans youth are responsible for creating zero of these problems, and in fact, are harmed by all of them, just like cisgender youth.' Perino said if Virginians want to address and prevent sex discrimination in women's school sports, they should focus on these 'real and urgent threats where the gender justice movement has correctly maintained its focus, and we see from far right policymakers only a resounding silence on these topics and a truly creepy fixation on the bodies and lives of a few trans girls and women being scapegoated for political gain.' Other advocates in Virginia are objecting to the changes and hope the committee will reconsider the action taken in February. Some view the vote as a harmful message — one that affects not just transgender athletes but Virginia's broader reputation, undermining being 'fair,' 'inclusive,' and providing 'opportunity for everyone.' 'Our hope is that maybe there is a world where they would reverse and go back to the original policy, but if anything, we want to send a strong message to them that they've made the wrong decision,' said Narissa Rahaman, executive director for Equality Virginia, a LGBTQ rights advocacy group. 'This is impacting community members, and it's going to impact more than just transgender student athletes, who want to play.' Rahaman said the committee's February decision overturned a decade-long policy that was working, noting that the league had initially told the Richmond Times-Dispatch it did not plan to make any changes in January. Since the policy's establishment, Rahaman said, Virginia has allowed 42 transgender athletes to play on sports teams matching their identity over the past 10 years. During the last legislative session, bills proposing to require K-12 public schools and higher education institutions to label each sports team as either boys, girls, or coed — based on the biological sex of the players — failed in the General Assembly. Del. Delores Oates, R-Warren, and Sen. Tammy Mulchi, R-Mecklenburg, who carried the proposals, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 'Protecting fairness and safety in girls' sports is a commonsense principle supported by the majority of Virginians,' Oates said in a statement to The Mercury. 'I commend the Virginia High School League for taking action to ensure female athletes compete on a level playing field. This is about preserving the gains made under Title IX — making sure girls have the same opportunities, scholarships, and team experiences that generations fought hard to secure. We stand with parents, coaches, and students who want to preserve those opportunities, and we will continue working to uphold them.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What happened with the high school track runner who hit her opponent with a baton?
A Virginia high school track star has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery after hitting an opposing runner over the head with a baton during a relay race captured on video. Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, told NBC affiliate WAVY that the incident in the viral video was an accident. The sprinter who was struck by the baton, Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker, told NBC affiliate WSLS that she was diagnosed with a concussion and a possible fractured skull. Everett has been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, according to Bethan Harrison, the commonwealth's attorney for Lynchburg. The controversial moment occurred during the 4x200-meter relay final at the Virginia High School League Class 3 State Indoor Championships at Liberty University on March 4. Everett and Tucker were rounding a curve of the track when they nearly collided as Tucker began to pass Everett into the same lane. Everett can be seen pumping her arms while holding the baton, which is followed by Tucker clutching her head and falling to the ground in pain. "As I was coming up on her, (Everett) kind of like made me get cut off a little bit, so I backed away, and then as we got around the curve, she kept bumping me in my arm," Tucker told WSLS. "And then finally when we got off the curve, I like slowly start passing her, and then that's when she just hit me with the baton and I fell off the track." The I.C. Norcom team was disqualified from the race because of the incident. "The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA. The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct," VHSL director of communications Mike McCall said in a statement to NBC News. "We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition.' A tearful Everett told WAVY that hitting Tucker with the baton was unintentional and came as a result of Tucker running so close to her. 'After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back," Everett said. "I lost my balance and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit. She was cutting in when it happened, when she should've waited a little bit longer." "I know my intentions, and I would never hit someone on purpose," she added. 'I didn't have to see a first video, second video or tenth video. I know 100 percent that she would never do that to nobody,' Everett's mother, Zeketa Cost, told WAVY. Everett, who is Black, said she has endured a racial backlash since the clip went viral and that people are judging her "off of one angle" from the video. 'They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats… all of this off of a nine-second video,' she said. The Portsmouth NAACP announced in a statement that it will continue to "review the circumstance" of the baton incident. "First, we want to make it abundantly clear that we denounce any type of racial slur or threat in any form towards anyone involved in the situation," the organization said in a statement. The Portsmouth NAACP added that it believes involvement by the criminal justice system in this matter "is not warranted in this situation." "Alaina is NOT AN ATTACKER and media headlines that allude towards that in any way is shameful," the organization said. "She is an exceptional young leader and scholar whose athletic talent has been well-documented and recognized across our state. She has carried herself with integrity both on and off the field, and any narrative that adjudicates her guilty of any criminal activity is a violation of her due process rights." Tucker's parents told WSLS they are looking for an apology from Everett and her track coach. They noted that the I.C. Norcom athletic director and Everett's parents have apologized to them. "They were watching the video at the event, but no one apologized or came to check on her," Tucker's mother, Tamarro Tucker, told WSLS. "Even if it was a fluke or freak accident, you still would check on her." Everett told WAVY that she tried to get in touch with Tucker, but Tucker blocked her on social media. Everett's family said they were served with court papers because Tucker's family wants a protective order against Everett. Everett told WAVY she didn't apologize to Tucker in person at the track meet because she was following the instructions of her track coach. The incident is under investigation by the VHSL, according to a statement by Portsmouth Public Schools. "We are cooperating with the VHSL in its work. The division will support and follow the ruling that comes from the VHSL upon its completed investigation," Portsmouth Public Schools said in the article was originally published on
Fox News
14-03-2025
- Fox News
Teen track runner who bashed opponent's head rallies supporters in Virginia after getting assault charge
The Virginia teen who was seen bashing an opponent's head with a baton during a high school track meet held a rally of supporters on Thursday to reiterate her innocence. The rally came just one day after she was served with a misdemeanor battery and assault charge. The student, Alaila Everett, held the rally outside of her school, I.C. Norcom High School, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dozens of individuals were seen attending the rally, as Everette delivered a tearful speech, where she thanked her supporters while sobbing. "Thank y'all for supporting me," Everett said to the supporters, as seen in footage by local Virginia news station WAVY. "There's no one else that wanted to hear my story, except the people that know me and people that know I would never do anything like that, I would never harm anybody. I'm not a fighter, I'm not even confrontational, I wouldn't even do that on purpose, and I thank y'all for believing in me. I love y'all." Everett's speech was met with loud applause and a chant of "We stand with you." Portsmouth NAACP President James Boyd also spoke at the rally, alleging threats and slurs that have been directed at Everett's family. "The Everett family has experienced racial slurs, they've experienced death threats, and we think unequivocally that those things are unacceptable," Boyd said. Local community activist Germain Green called for unity from the community in support of the teenager. "It bothered me to my heart to see how the whole world was dragging this young lady, dragging her character based on what they thought they saw. I just wanted to step up, speak out, and bring unity and let this young lady know that the city of Portsmouth has her back," Green said. Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney Office confirmed to Fox News Digital Wednesday that one misdemeanor charge of assault and battery jad been filed over the incident. The incident occurred last Tuesday during a championship meet, as footage showed Everett smashing her baton onto the head of Brookville High School junior Kaelen Tucker during a relay race. Everett and her whole team were disqualified. Tucker was later diagnosed with a concussion and possible skull fracture, as footage of the incident went viral. Everett has since said the hits were accidental, in interviews with WAVY and "Good Morning America." The Virginia High School League (VHSL) previously issued a statement to Fox News Digital on the matter. "The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA," the league's statement read. "The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Portsmouth Public School District for comment from the Everett family. Prior to the misdemeanor charges being announced on Everett, the Portsmouth NAACP released a statement defending the embattled teen on Wednesday. "Alaila is NOT AN ATTACKER and media headlines that allude towards that in any way is shameful. We understand the sensitivity of the circumstances for both athletes and their families involved but this narrative must not go unaddressed," the statement read. "Alaila is an honor student and a star athlete at the historic I.C. Norcom High School. From all accounts, she is an exceptional young leader and scholar whose athletic talent has been well documented and recognized across our state. She has carried herself with integrity both on and off the field and any narrative that adjudicates her guilty of any criminal activity is a violation of her due process rights." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Track Star Who Hit Opponent in Head with Baton Breaks Silence amid Controversy Over If It Was Intentional
A high school sprinter is speaking out for the first time after she was disqualified for hitting an opponent on the head with a baton, calling it an accident Alaila Everett says she's received death threats and racist insults after the video went viral Everett's parents are staying by her side, saying she'd never intentionally hurt someone A teen track star who hit an opponent on the head with a baton during a Virginia state championship race is speaking out, calling it an accident. 'I know my intention is that I would never hit somebody on purpose,' said Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School, in an emotional interview with local outlet WAVY TV 10. The teen's perspective comes five days after the 4×200 meter relay at a state indoor championship at Liberty University, during which Everett was seen striking her opponent, Kaelen Tucker, with a baton, according to local news outlet WSLS 10. The incident on Tuesday, March 4 was captured on video and showed Tucker, a junior from Brookville High School, clutching her head and falling towards the infield after the hit. Kaelen was later assessed by a doctor and was told she had a concussion and possible skull fracture, according to the outlet. The I.C. Norcom High School team was disqualified from the event. The school told PEOPLE that it immediately reported the incident to the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which is continuing an investigation into the matter. 'We are cooperating with the VHSL in its work,' said Dr. Lauren Nolasco, the chief communications officer for Portsmouth Public Schools. 'The division will support and follow the ruling that comes from the VHSL upon its completed investigation.' Brookville High School has not immediately responded to PEOPLE's request for comment. Related: Famed Motorsports Family Reveals the Unexpected Ways Growing Up in Front of Camera Changed Their Life (Exclusive) In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the VHSL stood by the decision to disqualify Everett. 'The VHSL does not comment on individuals or disciplinary actions due to FERPA. The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct,' the organization said. 'We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition." During her recent interview, Everett claimed that the video is misleading. 'They're going off of one angle,' she told WAVY TV 10. 'After a couple times of hitting her [with her body], my baton got stuck behind her back like this,' Everett said, gesturing upwards, 'and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance and when I pumped my arms again, she got hit.' Tucker, who was in the second lane during the relay, was seen running close to Everett as she tried to overtake her opponent, per the video. The close proximity then resulted in the strike to Tucker's head, Everett claims. Related: Olivia Dunne Announces Scary Injury Is Keeping Her Out of Competition: 'It Absolutely Breaks My Heart' Since the incident, Everett said she's received a wave of hatred. 'They're assuming my character, calling me ghetto, racist slurs, death threats, all of this, just because of a nine-second video,' Everett told WAVY TV 10. The evening after the race, Tucker and her mother, Tamarro Tucker, spoke to WSLS 10. Both questioned why Tucker hadn't received an apology. 'My whole thing was no apology," Tamarro said in the interview. "Like, no coaches, no athlete, no anything. Even if it was an accident — which I don't believe it was — but nothing. And it's been more than 24 hours now. So I guess that was the major thing. My child was hurt and nobody came to check on her.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Kaelen echoed her mother's statement, telling the outlet she's been left wondering: 'Why did you do it? And why haven't you apologized yet?' Her opponent said she has tried to apologize, but it hasn't been received. Everett told WAVY TV 10 that Kaelen has blocked her on social media. The outlet also reports that Everett's family is being sued by the Tuckers. Everett's parents are appalled at the vitriol their daughter has received, according to the outlet. And they're standing by their daughter. Everett's mom told the outlet that she 'didn't have to see a first video, second video or 10th video. I know 100 percent that she would never do that to nobody.' Read the original article on People
