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Fox News
3 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
High school girls stage protest after trans athlete wins 2nd straight state track championship
Veronica Garcia's state championship is being met with tons of backlash. Garcia, a senior at East Valley High School in Spokane, Washington, took home the girls' 400-meter 2A state title on Saturday. Garcia is a transgender female. Garcia, according to the Seattle Times, was heckled before the race and was booed after it. But the criticism did not end on Saturday. With students back at school after the weekend, high school girls decided to take matters into their own hands. Numerous girls from Tumwater High School in Tumwater protested during school hours with a large banner sign that read, "This is not a walk out (sic). We are not going anywhere." Other signs read "XX," "protest female sports" and other similar messages. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) issued the following statement to Fox News Digital: "The WIAA continues to proudly represent the 225,000+ student-participants across the state. The Association is aware of the protest by Tumwater HS students." The Tumwater girls' team finished in third place in the meet. Reese Heryford finished in 15th place in a preliminary run for the 400 meters, failing to be in the necessary top eight to qualify for the final. Garcia said the boos were "expect[ed]." "I'll be honest, I kind of expect it," Garcia told the Seattle Times. "But it maybe didn't have their intended effect. It made me angry, but not angry as in I wanted to give up, but angry as in I'm going to push. "I'm going to put this in the most PG-13 way. I'm just going to say it's a damn shame they don't have anything else better to do. I hope they get a life. But oh well. It just shows who they are as people." Garcia, who ran the race in 55.70 seconds, won by over a full second. That time would have been the slowest by any boy, even in the preliminary rounds. Garcia also won a state championship last year and complained about the lack of sportsmanship from fellow competitors. Garcia's victory came roughly a week after the Quilcene School District in Washington voted, 3-2, to keep sports competition based on athletes' birth gender, a move that defies state law. The WIAA, enacted in 2007, allows transgender students to participate based on their gender identity. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to keep biological boys out of girls' and women's sports, but Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, who once said it would be "inaccurate" to say there are only two genders, said the order defies state law. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Curtis' Altheimer sprints to three state track titles, East Valley's Garcia talks repeat
Nicholas 'Nico' Altheimer — a.k.a. 'That Guy' — can officially consider himself the state's fastest high schooler. Curtis' star senior used a strong jump from the starting blocks and flew to Saturday's 4A Boys 100M Dash title (10.59), completing his quest for the title of Washington's top sprinter at the WIAA State Championships at Mount Tahoma. 'I knew I had this race in my bag,' he told The News Tribune with a smile. 'I wasn't worried. I came in front of this crowd knowing that I was going to do it. That's what I wanted to do.' Altheimer owns the state's fastest 100-meter dash this spring (10.35), torching Thursday's preliminaries (10.52) and securing Saturday's gold medal by two-tenths of a second. 'I felt like I got out really good,' he said. 'I was able to hold it and finish, and that's the only thing that matters to me.' Altheimer donned his gold medal atop the podium in front of a packed, overflowing crowd at Mount Tahoma Stadium — but the 6-foot-3, 190-pound speedster's afternoon was far from finished. By day's end, there were three gold medals around his neck. The anchor of Curtis' state-record 4A Boys 4x100M relay finished the Vikings title run (40.93), outlasting Glacier Peak for the gold in Saturday's final. Jayden Rice-Claiborne, Isaac Brooks, Kamil Ross, and Altheimer ran an all-time state-record 40.84 in Friday's preliminaries, taking down a state meet record (Garfield, 1986) that stood for 39 years. 'Very special,' Altheimer said. 'To run it back senior year and win it all? I'm very happy with it. It's special to me.' The bubbling, confident Altheimer saved perhaps his best run for last — a dominant, 21.07-second run for glory in the 4A Boys 200M Dash, setting a new state meet record. He surpassed Wilson's Darrell Robinson's 1982 mark (21.26) recorded some 43 years ago. 'I came out here, did what I needed to do, and took it home,' Altheimer said. 'I was a little nervous, but to be honest, I know what type of athlete I am. I know the speed and power I have.' He's far from arrogant, but Altheimer sensed a triple-crown-like afternoon in the cards. Where and when did his self-belief blossom? 'It really comes from my Mom, the way I'm so positive and so overly confident with myself and my abilities,' he said. 'It's really how my Mom raised me and taught me: you know that you can do it. So as long as you believe that you can do it, you can.' Altheimer was one of four South Sound runners to claim 100-meter dash titles on Saturday, a dominant showing by the area's top sprinters. Mount Tahoma freshman Kanai Kennedy struck gold in his first state meet, capturing the 3A Boys 100M Dash title on his home turf (10.80). Kent-Meridian's Marcella Jones won Saturday's 3A Girls 100M Dash (12.17) and Emerald Ridge sophomore Iren Derricks claimed her second 4A Girls 100M title in as many years (11.68), completing her quest for back-to-back championships. Next year's meet could bring a Derricks three-peat. 'It's amazing,' Derricks said. 'It's something that I thought about. Sometimes, it feels like a dream. To be back-to-back as a freshman and sophomore is insane. 'It's awesome, and (something) a lot of people don't have a chance to do. It feels great.' Derricks and Jones won second state titles Saturday: Emerald Ridge's star set a new state meet record in the 4A Girls 200M Dash (24.10) and Jones paced the 3A Girls 300M Hurdles (42.78). Kent-Meridian's sprinter couldn't stop smiling. 'I knew there was going to be a lot of competition today,' she said. 'The girls were here to bring it, so I just knew I had to trust in my training, trust in God's plan, and just execute the plan. That's what we did today.' Eddie Bruner Jr.'s jaw dropped to the turf. Unaware of his pace until crossing the finish line in Saturday's 3A Boys 400M run, Lincoln's latest state champion turned and couldn't believe the time plastered next to his name — 46.94 seconds. Hands on his head, Bruner Jr. collapsed. Teammates and friends from nearby programs, including Curtis' Altheimer, raced to his side and greeted him with hype. Abes fans stood among the crowd with applause. Why such shock, you ask? 'It was about breaking 47 (seconds),' Bruner Jr. said, who set a new personal record. 'I had to stay focused. When I saw 46, I wasn't expecting to run it, but it just happened. I didn't look at the time. I just let it happen.' It's a repeat championship for Bruner Jr., who won the 2024 3A Boys 400M title (48.53). 'It was all process, staying calm,' he said. 'Trying to stay fierce.' Bruner Jr. went on to finish second in Saturday's 3A Boys 200-meter dash (21.34). Mount Tahoma's Kennedy took fifth (21.96). Veronica Garcia expected the boobirds who flocked to Saturday's 2A Girls 400M Dash at Mount Tahoma Stadium — but the East Valley senior has turned backlash into fuel once again. The first-known transgender athlete to win a WIAA state track and field championship has successfully defended her crown (55.70), cutting through noise and pacing the field by more than one second for repeat state titles in Tacoma. 'I'm proud of myself,' Garcia said. 'I did what I came to do. I think that's good enough for me. '(I was) angry. Not angry as in 'I wanted to give up', but angry as in 'I'm gonna push.'' She wasn't offered high-fives or congratulations from fellow competitors upon crossing the finish line. Boos resurfaced at the awards ceremony, where a packed crowd roared for every contestant until Garcia, some turning against her instead. In 2024, she claimed the 2A Girls 400M Dash with a similar time (55.70) and similar response from a mixed crowd. 'I'll put this in the most PG-13 way — I'm just going to say it's a damn shame that they don't have anything else better to do,' Garcia said. 'I hope they get a life, but oh well. It just shows who they are as people.' Garcia's first win sparked debate regarding the fairness of competition between biological males and females. Last month, the WIAA's representative assembly rejected two amendments that would have prevented transgender athlete participation in girls' sports: Amendment No. 7 — Participation in girls' sports would be limited to biological females. Amendment No. 8 — Athletic programs would be offered separately for boys, girls, and (a third) open division for all students interested. To pass, amendments require 60 percent approval (or 32 votes) from voting members. Amendment No. 7 received 31 votes — one shy of approval — and Amendment No. 8 garnered 13 votes. Both were designated as advisory votes because they did not align with Washington state law, meaning a passing vote wouldn't have immediately translated to implementation for the 2025-26 school year. 'Despite the failure of (Amendment No. 7 and Amendment No. 8), the Association's message remains clear: The WIAA remains committed to following Washington state law and will continue to do so moving forward,' the WIAA wrote in an April 21 press release. 'If state law changes in the future, the WIAA Executive Board holds the authority to revise policies accordingly—and now has input from the membership on how to proceed in that event, while remaining in compliance with state law.' The state law, Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.642.010, states that 'discrimination in Washington public schools on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, natural origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability is prohibited.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mount Vernon's offense explodes in 3A state championship win over Kennewick
Kennewick tried to pitch around Mount Vernon's Xavier Neyens in the Washington WIAA Class 3A state championship game at Parker Faller Field in Yakima on Saturday. Three times, the Lions intentionally walked Neyens, the No. 1 prospect in the state and a projected first-round pick in this summer's MLB Draft. But it turns out the rest of the Bulldogs can hit the ball pretty well, too. The game went back and forth early on and Kennewick led 5-2 at one point, but Mount Vernon exploded in the later innings, piling it on and walking away with a 14-6 win. 'We all love it when that happens,' Mount Vernon first baseman Bode Webb said of Kennewick's decision to keep intentionally walking Neyens. 'We always want (Neyens) to hit, but whatever happens, we love it. We never quit.' As a team, Mount Vernon racked up 13 hits in 28 at-bats and drew nine walks. Webb drove in six runs for the Bulldogs, part of an offensive explosion that stretched close to three hours. When the dust settled, it was almost hard to believe Mount Vernon had ever trailed. 'Dawgs don't quit,' Webb said. 'Never do.' Mount Vernon designated hitter Moises Lucatero hit three doubles. In total, five Mount Vernon players had multi-hit days. Kennewick, which came from behind a day prior to beat Gig Harbor in extra innings in the tournament semifinals, hit the ball pretty well, too. Kennewick nine-hole hitter Dierks Chavez went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs. First baseman Cameron Owen went 2-for-3 with two RBI. The Lions collected 10 hits, but couldn't keep pace with Mount Vernon's offensive explosion. The title is Mount Vernon's third total and first since 1992, when the program defeated Sehome in the 3A championship game. 'It's a super tight group,' Webb said. 'We all love each other so much. I'm happy our seniors went out this way. I can't even explain it, it's awesome.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Light fight: Controversy postpones Puyallup vs. Lake Washington state baseball game
Trailing 8-0 to Lake Washington after four innings, it looked like the lights were about to go out on Puyallup's undefeated baseball season. Instead, the lights at Parker Faller Field in Yakima started going out as the sun was setting in the final game of the day, a Class 4A state tournament semifinal game. Puyallup coach Marc Wiese voiced his frustration with the lighting conditions as the game wore on, then the umpires paused the game and began having conversations with both team's coaches, event staff and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) staffers on hand for the event. Most of the lights, particularly in the outfield, were operational and working fine, but several of the lights in the two fixtures on both baselines closest to home plate were out. Each light fixture at the stadium had between six and eight individual lights. On one of the baseline fixtures, only two were functioning. Several were out on the other, as well. After almost an hour-long delay, the umpire crew and WIAA officials decided to postpone and resume the game at 10 a.m. Saturday. 'When the lights didn't fully come on, the umpires decided to suspend the game because they couldn't see the balls coming in,' Justin Kesterson told The News Tribune. Kesterson is the WIAA's assistant executive director. 'The home plate umpire made that decision with his crew, that it was just too hard to see the ball, to be fair with both teams and for safety.' Puyallup coach Marc Wiese had pointed words for the WIAA. 'You can't play baseball in this,' he said. 'We've got four lights (total) basically on both bases. And here's the thing: Yakima Valley (Community College), their coach even told them, you cannot play night games here, etc. The WIAA knew about this. They've got some explaining to do.' Kesterson said he was not personally aware of any issues with the stadium lighting during night games prior to the event. 'I'm not aware, myself, of any situations where there were issues with the lights,' he said. It looked likely Lake Washington was closing in on a win, stunning the undefeated, nationally-ranked Puyallup Vikings from the first pitch. The game was billed as a potential pitcher's duel — Puyallup's Mason Pike and Lake Washington's Shane Johnson — but Lake Washington jumped on Pike early. Johnson, meanwhile, was rolling. Lake Washington coach Derek Bingham said it was a difficult situation. 'It's really tough,' he told the TNT. 'You prepare all season for the final four, play your best game of the year for four innings and now you've gotta come back and do it tomorrow.' Whether or not the rules would allow for Bingham to use Johnson, an Oregon commit, again on Saturday, he wasn't sure. But he said he won't throw him again. 'He's got too bright of a future for me to put him back out there after a full warm-up, pitching four innings,' Bingham said. 'I would never do that, regardless of what's on the line.' Bingham said he also didn't feel there was any gamesmanship from Wiese, with Puyallup trailing 8-0. 'I have too much respect for Marc for that,' he said. 'It was dark. I agree it's dark. I don't know if it's unplayable, but when it got darker, it looks like maybe.' Wiese said he felt the site, which is a bit dated, simply isn't adequate to host the 3A and 4A baseball championships. What's available to the WIAA in any given year depends on the schedules of minor league baseball teams around the state, a WIAA spokesperson told the TNT. Last year's 3A and 4A state tournament semifinals and championship games were played at Gesa Stadium in Pasco. 'This is not suitable,' Wiese said. '100 percent. The biggest thing is, for (the WIAA) to know about this lighting, it's just a disappointment, to be quite honest with you. At the end of the day, we've got three innings left and we still have a shot to win. Tomorrow, we're gonna roll over, it's gonna be a new day. Maybe we'll have some good fortune.' The game will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The 3A and 4A third/fourth place consolation games have been canceled. The 3A state championship game will be played at 1 p.m. and the 4A state championship game will be played at 4 p.m. The WIAA said it considered trying to move the consolation games to other local sites, but it didn't look like it'd work. 'We had that conversation, just talking through the facilities and what might be available, especially on short notice,' Kesterson said. 'We didn't feel that would be able to be done, to be able to set up all the other components of that. There was no other stadium available to help mitigate the issue of trying to push and keep the games at their scheduled times.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pacelli pitcher Peyton Mancl breaks single-game strikeout record in playoff win
STEVENS POINT - Pacelli ace Peyton Mancl struck out 19 on May 29 to help the Cardinals cruise past Marathon 1-0 in the Division 4 regional final of the WIAA softball tournament, breaking the school's single-game strike record. The 19-strikeout effort overtakes Laura Raflik's previous record-setting performance in which she struck out 17 in a game against Weyauwega-Fremont on April 19, 2010. Advertisement Molski reaches 100 career wins: History maker: Pacelli softball's Ann Molski reaches 400th career win Mancl, who has dominated the mound for Pacelli for back-to-back seasons in the Division 5 state championship, pitched the distance for the Cardinals, in the process relenting only two hits and two walks in the record-breaking effort. The effort helped the Rock Valley College commit earn her third consecutive double-digit strikeout performance, and eleventh overall for the season. How Pacelli prioritizes mental health: 'You have to be willing to fail': How mental health helped Pacelli reach new heights Advertisement On June 3, No. 1 Pacelli will face No. 2 Assumption, with a trip to advance to the sectional final on the line. Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III. This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Peyton Mancl breaks single-game strikeout record against Marathon
