Controversy after volleyball teams opt out of SJSU matches over trans athlete

[Karah]

A CONTROVERSY AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY IS CONTINUING THE DEBATE OVER THE INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS. 

IT ALL STARTED LAST MONTH WHEN TEAMS INCLUDING WYOMING, BOISE STATE, UTAH STATE, UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA-RENO, AND SOUTHERN UTAH FORFEITED GAMES AGAINST SAN JOSE STATE, WHICH HAS AN REPORTED TRANSGENDER ATHLETE ON ITS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL ROSTER. THOSE TEAMS CLAIM THE ATHLETE’S PRESENCE RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FAIRNESS IN WOMEN’S COMPETITION. SAN JOSE STATE, HOWEVER, SAYS THE ATHLETE MEETS ALL ELIGIBILITY RULES SET BY THE NCAA AND THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE.

THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER EXPRESSED CONCERN, CALLING THE SITUATION “HEARTBREAKING,” ADDING THAT IT’S TAKING A TOLL ON ALL ATHLETES INVOLVED. 

THIS ISSUE HAS QUICKLY BECOME A POLITICAL ONE, WITH REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS IN STATES LIKE IDAHO, UTAH, AND WYOMING VOICING SUPPORT FOR THE FORFEITS, ARGUING THAT THE INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES DISRUPTS THE COMPETITIVE FAIRNESS IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.

MEANWHILE, SAN JOSE STATE ASSISTANT VOLLEYBALL COACH MELISSA BATIE-SMOOSE, WAS SUSPENDED AFTER PUBLICLY QUESTIONING THE INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS. 

Melissa Batie-Smoose. Asst. Coach San Jose State Spartans

“We need more and more people to do this and fight this fight… because women’s sports as we know it right now.. Will be forever changed.”

THE SUSPENSION PROMPTED THE TEAM’S CO-CAPTAIN, BROOKE SLUSSER TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.

Brooke Slusser. Co-Captain. San Jose State Spartans

“this has so much more to do with… me , my situation, my team’s situation… it has everything to do with just stopping it for the future of girls and women’s sports. Because like I said, women’s sports might be gone at the end of the day if we keep going the way we’re going.”

BUT MANY… INCLUDING FANS OF THE TEAM ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER ATHLETES’  RIGHT TO PLAY.

“those people deserve as much as the rest of us to be able to play sports and be able to represent the universities” 

SAN JOSE STATE’S HEAD COACH, TODD KRESS, SAYS THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY AND THE FORFEITS HAVE BEEN EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING FOR HIS TEAM. 

Todd Kress, San Jose State Head Coach

“the student athletes in particular received a lot of hate mail DMS voicemail some of it to be honest is disgusting I’m more worried about our student athletes and what they receive and how that’s affecting their mental health to be quite honest”

WITH THE MOUNTAIN WEST TOURNAMENT CLOSING IN, THE FORFEITS ARE ADDING PRESSURE. TEAMS THAT OPT OUT RECEIVE OFFICIAL LOSSES, WHICH COULD IMPACT THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE TOURNAMENT. OTHER TEAMS ARE NOW DECIDING WHETHER TO CONTINUE FORFEITING MATCHES AGAINST SAN JOSE STATE OR COMPETE.

RECENTLY UNCOVERED EMAILS BY USA TODAY REVEALED TURMOIL WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, WHERE VOTES TO FORFEIT WERE A 9-TO-9 TIE, YET THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT STILL DECIDED NOT TO PLAY… LEADING TO ACCUSATIONS FROM COACHES OF OUTSIDE POLITICAL PRESSURE HAVING AN INFLUENCE.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.