Staff Reports
A 17-year-old boy who identifies as a girl may soon be making history by becoming the first male athlete to receive a women’s scholarship in NCAA Division I sports. California resident Tate Drageset has reportedly verbally committed to play women’s volleyball at the University of Washington. If Drageset accepts the offer, he will be one of the 12 scholarship recipients on the women’s volleyball team.
Drageset, currently playing for the Actyve Volleyball Club in Santa Monica, California, has already proven his talent by helping several girls’ volleyball teams win championships. He was named the MVP at the Girls Junior National Championships and also received the California Interscholastic Federation’s Division 5 Player of the Year award for the 2022-2023 season.
Tate Drageset
🏐: Outside
⬅️: Actyve
➡️: University of Washington pic.twitter.com/VOnVvBojir— Class of 2025 Volleyball Commits (@classof2025vb) June 27, 2023
According to reports, Drageset’s athletic abilities far exceed those of the girls he competes against. The Independent Council on Women’s Sports, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting women’s sports, has stated that Drageset’s standing reach, vertical jump, and other physical metrics are superior to those of his female teammates and opponents.
However, some parents have expressed concerns about their daughters competing against Drageset. They feel that the schools and teams have hidden the fact that he is biologically male. Despite their reservations, some parents have been afraid to speak out for fear of being labeled as hateful and facing negative consequences for their daughters.
Drageset’s mother has been an outspoken advocate for transgender rights, and she has openly supported her son’s transition. In 2016, she worked with the Los Angeles Times to publish a story about her son’s journey, referring to him as “T.” Additionally, a film was made about Drageset’s transition, although his face was hidden in most scenes. Despite the controversy surrounding his participation in women’s sports, Drageset’s mother has continued to publish books and advocate for gender identity for young children.
Opponents of allowing biological males to compete in female sports argue that there are inherent physical differences between males and females, which can lead to unfair advantages and safety concerns. They cite incidents such as a California girl suffering a serious injury from a boy spiking a volleyball into her face and a girl in North Carolina sustaining head and neck injuries from a ball hit by a transgender player. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of female athletes when competing against transgender athletes.
As the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports continues, it remains to be seen how Drageset’s situation will unfold and whether he will be given the opportunity to compete on the University of Washington’s women’s volleyball team.
