Staff Reports
In a groundbreaking move, a 17-year-old transgender boy has reportedly secured a women’s scholarship for NCAA Division I sports. Tate Drageset, a California resident and volleyball player, has verbally committed to playing women’s volleyball at the University of Washington. If he signs the offer, he will become the first male athlete to receive a women’s scholarship in NCAA Division I sports.
Trans Volleyball Player Edges Out Female Competitors for Coveted Division I Women's Scholarship: Report via @WestJournalism https://t.co/TPmgCC8WjV
— K Shiner (@katscheiner) December 18, 2023
Drageset, who currently plays for the Actyve Volleyball Club in Santa Monica, has already achieved significant success in the girls volleyball arena. According to Reduxx, he has helped several girls volleyball teams win championships and was named MVP at the Girls Junior National Championships. He was also awarded the California Interscholastic Federation’s Division 5 Player of 2022-23.
However, questioning voices have emerged, highlighting the obvious biological differences between Drageset and the girls he competes against. Parents of other female athletes have expressed concerns about the impact on their daughters, as they fear the loss of positions and opportunities due to an athlete with inherently different physical advantages. Some parents have been intimidated into silence, fearing backlash for expressing their genuine concerns.
In an attempt to shed light on the situation, the Independent Council on Women’s Sports has compared Drageset’s performance metrics to those of his female counterparts. Their analysis found that Drageset’s standing reach, vertical jump, and other physical capabilities exceed those of same-height female athletes within his volleyball club.
Furthermore, Drageset’s mother, Stacey Drageset, has a history of advocating for the transgendering of children. She is known for helping the Los Angeles Times publish a story in 2016 highlighting her son’s “transition.” Stacey Drageset has embraced various forms of media exposure, allowing a film to be shot featuring Tate’s transition and publishing a book urging gender identity on small children.
Amidst the controversy, safety concerns have also been raised. Incidents of serious injuries caused by transgender athletes have been reported, further fueling anxieties among parents. For instance, a California girl suffered a concussion and blurred vision after being hit in the face by a transgender boy’s volleyball spike. In another case, a North Carolina girl experienced head and neck injuries due to a ball hit by a transgender opponent, leading the school to refuse any competition involving a trans player. In Massachusetts, a girl had her teeth knocked out during a field hockey game when a boy delivered a forceful shot to her face.
As the debate over transgender athletes participating in women’s sports continues to be a contentious issue, this development with Tate Drageset underscores the need for a balanced approach that addresses concerns regarding fair competition and the safety of all athletes involved.
