Latest news with #WhiteBearLake
CBS News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
First woman to head coach a boys' team at White Bear Lake is turning the soccer program around
She's breaking barriers as the first female head coach of a boys' team at White Bear Lake schools. Taelynn Gittins took the helm of the boys' varsity soccer team last season, and has helped turn the program around. Before Gittins took over as head coach, the varsity team only had one win in 2023. In 2024, her first season as head coach, they improved to seven wins. "The program needed a change and she's done a great job so far," said Noah Watson, junior captain on the White Bear Lake boys' soccer team. A big change she's made with the team is starting their training a lot earlier than normal. Even though the season begins in the fall, the boys are practicing every week this summer. "Why not get them more training, more touches on the ball?" Gittins said. "So when it comes time for fall, we're not getting the rust off then, we're doing it in the summer." Head coach Taelynn Gittins became the head coach for the White Bear Lake boys' soccer team last year. WCCO "Honestly, just the tempo at practices and the effort she's putting in is a lot more surreal, and just the intensity she's putting in is just 10 times better," said Gavin Huot, senior captain on the White Bear Lake boys' soccer team. Gittins' soccer career began in the goal, and she took her skills to Division III at St. Scholastica College. After she graduated, she started at with the Bears boys' soccer team as a goalie coach and worked her way up to where she is now. "Our previous head coach really brought me in and made it normal that we're not looking at gender at all, we're looking at skills base," Gittins said. Breaking the norm in sports means facing age-old standards. "People have just expected that I'm a manager and not a coach," said Gittins, but she doesn't let those standards stop her. "I kind of let the comments role off my back. My big thing is I kind of use it as motivation to just prove them wrong," "She's just another coach. I don't see any different," said Cooper Feirn, senior goalie on the White Bear Lake boys' soccer team. The improving stats speaking for themselves, but deeper than that, Gittins has brought a more personal connection to this team that has helped all the players improve their game. "What I like is she talks to us one on one. She can really help you face to face," Feirn said. "I think she's a lot more personal, and it's easier to be comfortable around and play with confidence when you have a coach you can relate with and talk to," Watson said. Gittins has helped these players dream bigger as they head towards the start of their new season. "We're going to state...I know it," Feirn said. Also new this season — Gittins brought more women onto her staff, including hiring a woman to coach the boys' junior varsity team.
Axios
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Minnesota students own the national speech and debate tournament
More than 200 Minnesota students have a chance this week to prove again why the state is a hotbed for high school speech and debate. The big picture: They're among the 6,300 competitors at this week's National Speech & Debate Tournament in Des Moines. Since 2000, Minnesotans have won the tournament's main events more times (43) than competitors from any other state, including Texas (38), California (37) and Florida (35). 🎙️ Kyle's thought bubble: Their success came after proving themselves at Twin Cities tournaments, which — as a former Minnesota speech kid and now a part-time coach, I can attest — are some of the toughest local competitions in the U.S. Every time I watch these competitors, and hear the strength in their voices, I know our future is in good hands. How it works: At nationals, 12 main categories of competition fall under the umbrellas of "speech" or "debate." In debate events, competitors verbally spar over morals and values, current events or policy plans or in mock sessions of a legislature. In "public address" speech events, competitors deliver persuasive or informative speeches. In one event, high schoolers have 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute oration on questions like: "Will Syria be able to establish a stable government anytime soon?" "Interpretation" events look more like competitive acting, featuring humorous or dramatic monologues or a scene with a partner. Case in point: White Bear Lake's Sanyu Mwassa and Mariam Elias-Danjuma won the championship in 2024 for their "duo interpretation" about how white audiences demand Black artists to perform pain. By the numbers: Apple Valley remains the region's most venerable speech power, producing more champions (16) than any other U.S. high school since 1931. The next closest to that mark anywhere in the U.S.? Eagan, which is tied for second place with 10 speech and debate titles. Eastview is not far behind them with eight. What we're watching: Minnesota has produced 40 main event finalists since 2022 — and four of those competitors are back this year for another run at the stage. The returning finalists: Apple Valley's Aniya Bostick and Isaiah Craig, Eastview's Sahiti Atluri and Moorhead's Eleanor Culloton. The intrigue: Some of our future leaders in politics and culture are probably in Des Moines right now. Four of the nine current U.S. Supreme Court justices are speech and debate alums — and Neil Gorsuch is a former national champion. A young Oprah did speech. So did Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Hasan Minhaj and Stephen Colbert. The actor Josh Gad (Olaf in "Frozen"!) gave one of the most memorable speeches in the history of the national tournament.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Trans pitcher breaks records as she wipes out high school softball team
The Champlin Park Rebels girls' softball team controversially reached the Minnesota State Championship for the first time on Wednesday night - thanks in part to their transgender pitcher. Marissa Rothenberger threw a complete game and then hit two doubles as the Rebels clawed a win over White Bear Lake 3-2. reported that Champlin Park coach Bryan Woodley said: 'She's always clutch. I think she's the best centerfielder in the state. She's just a great all-around player.' Rothenberger is biologically male. At nine, Rothenberger's mother applied in district court to alter her child's birth certificate after their ninth birthday and the petition being approved, according to Reduxx. Rothenberger was issued a new birth certificate showing to be born female, and switched their name from Charlie Dean to Marissa. Earlier on Wednesday, as per OutKick, the Rebels beat Eagen school 5-0, while parents of the losing team looked on wearing t-shirts which read: 'Save Girls' Sports'. Champlin Park walks it off against White Bear Lake to advance to the Minnesota state championship game. Marissa Rothenberger (not the batter here) had 2 doubles and pitched another complete game. — Amber Harding Snyder (@TheAmberHarding) June 4, 2025 Speaking to OutKick Rothenberger's mother said: 'I was pretty disappointed and frustrated,' they reported that she asked to keep her name to herself to protect her daughter. She continued: 'I think we've seen this happen over and over again to our girls. You look online, and you see women transitioning to men, and they're not dominating any of the men's sports. You don't see that. 'But on the women's side, you see it over and over again across the country. It's super frustrating. I knew it was eventually going to happen to my daughter. I was sad to see it happen to her.' Rothenberger appears to be referenced in a lawsuit against Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison which was filed in May. The complaint, obtained by Daily Mail, claims a 'male' pitcher playing for Champlin Park's girls team has created an unfair playing field for female rivals, who have been denied honors and opportunities as a result.' A spokesman for Anoka-Hennepin school district declined to comment about Rothenberger to DailyMail in May, and instead cited privacy rules. However, the school has released a general statement. The statement read: 'Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student athletes participating for the Champlin Park Softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law. 'Due to data privacy laws, the District is not able to provide public comment regarding a specific student athlete. In addition, the District is named in an active lawsuit, which limits what information can be shared.' President Donald Trump has been working to stop transgender athletes partaking in female sports by signing an executive order threatening to withhold funding from any institution that violates the declaration. Statistics on transgender participation in female sports aren't comprehensive.
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Trans softballer hits 2 doubles, pitches complete game to send team to Minnesota state championship for first time
A controversial high school softball team has made the Minnesota state championships for the first time after their star transgender pitcher smashed two doubles and pitched a complete game in a walk-off win. Trans athlete Melissa Rothenberger's performance helped her Champlin Park team beat White Bear Lake 3-2 on Wednesday, leading a girl on the losing team to cry and ask her father, 'Why can't you do something?' according to OutKick. Rothenberger, a junior, went 2-3 at the plate for Champlin Park, sparking her team's comeback victory after falling behind 2-0 and sending them to the Group 4A state championship Friday. Advertisement 'She's always clutch,' Champlin Park coach Bryan Woodley told Twin Cities Pioneer Press after the semi-finals win. 'I think she's the best centerfielder in the state. She's just a great all-around player.' Marissa Rothenberger pitched a complete game and hit 2 doubles in Wednesday night's win. Two fathers of girls on the White Bear Lake team told Outkick they were frustrated that their daughters were forced to compete against a biological male. Advertisement One said that players' parents regretted voting for Minnesota Democrats who've allowed the youth athletic system to operate this way. 'You're looking at a whole team of future Republicans,' one dad said. Champlin Park will play in its first-ever state championship game Friday night. Amber Harding The Minnesota State High School League [MSHSL] permits students to compete under gender identity, despite President Trump's executive order barring all biological men from women's sports. Advertisement The league has said that the inclusion of trans athletes is protected and 'determined by state law, through the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Minnesota Constitution,' Outkick reported. While national governing sports organizations such as USA Softball and the NCAA have implemented female-only policies in women's sports, state-level laws have created loopholes that allow trans athletes to participate.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Trans softball mayhem continues as controversial Minnesota team reach State Championship
The Champlin Park Rebels girls' softball team controversially reached the Minnesota State Championship for the first time in history on Wednesday night - thanks in part to their transgender pitcher. Marissa Rothenberger threw a complete game and then hit two doubles as the Rebels narrowly beat White Bear Lake 3-2 for their historic achievment. 'She's always clutch,' Champlin Park coach Bryan Woodley was quoted as saying by 'I think she's the best centerfielder in the state. She's just a great all-around player.' Rothenberger is biologically male. At nine, Rothenberger's mother applied in district court to alter her child's birth certificate after their ninth birthday, with the petition being approved, per Reduxx. Rothenberger was issued a new birth certificate showing to be born female, switching their name from 'Charlie Dean' to Marissa. Earlier on Wednesday, as per OutKick, the Rebels beat Eagen school 5-0, while parents of the losing team wore 'Save Girls' Sports' t-shirts. Champlin Park walks it off against White Bear Lake to advance to the Minnesota state championship game. Marissa Rothenberger (not the batter here) had 2 doubles and pitched another complete game. — Amber Harding Snyder (@TheAmberHarding) June 4, 2025 'I was pretty disappointed and frustrated,' she told OutKick, who reported that she asked to keep her name to herself in order to protect her daughter. 'I think we've seen this happen over and over again to our girls. You look online, and you see women transitioning to men, and they're not dominating any of the men's sports. You don't see that. 'But on the women's side, you see it over and over again across the country. It's super frustrating. I knew it was eventually going to happen to my daughter. I was sad to see it happen to her.' Rothenberger appears to be referenced in a lawsuit against Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison filed in May. The complaint, obtained by Daily Mail, claims a 'male' pitcher playing for Champlin Park's girls team has created an unfair playing field for female rivals, who have been denied honors and opportunities as a result.' A spokesman for Anoka-Hennepin school district declined to comment about Rothenberger to DailyMail in May, citing privacy rules. However, the school has released a general statement. 'Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student athletes participating for the Champlin Park Softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law,' read the statement. 'Due to data privacy laws, the District is not able to provide public comment regarding a specific student athlete. In addition, the District is named in an active lawsuit, which limits what information can be shared.' President Donald Trump has been working to rid female sports from transgender athletes by signing an executive order threatening to withhold funding from any institution that violates the declaration. Statistics on transgender participation in female sports aren't comprehensive. However, in December, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified that fewer than 10 are competing among 500,000 collegiate student athletes in the country.
