(The Center Square) – The Michigan High School Athletic Association is planning an official response to a recent controversy surrounding a transgender athlete that apparently competed in the 2025 Girls’ Volleyball State Championship tournament.
This announcement comes one week after Michigan House Republican women sent a letter calling for the MHSAA to open an investigation into the matter.
“We did receive the letter, and we will be sending a response,” Geoff Kimmerly, director of communications for the association, told The Center Square. “I know this is in process.”
Kimmerly said he could not provide exact information on the response or when it would be released.
Republicans have joined to push back against the student, who is a biological male, for participating on a girls’ volleyball team. The student is a player on the Ann Arbor Skyline girls volleyball team, which advanced to the state quarterfinals.
Republicans say their concerns center around fairness and safety.
“Our letter asked that the rules are being followed appropriately and that female athletes are not put at unnecessary risk,” state Rep. Donni Steele, R-Orion Township, exclusively told The Center Square. “We have already seen a girl in another state suffer a fractured skull after competing against a biological male. Michigan is not immune to that danger.”
Currently, Michigan has no legislation regarding transgender athletes participating in high school sports, though Republicans in the state House have introduced some bills.
“Biological males may still compete in girls’ athletics unless the rules change,” Steele said. “That is why the House passed House Bills 4066 and 4469, which set a clear sex-at-birth standard for participation. These bills give schools and families consistency and keep competition fair and safe for girls.”
While House Bill 4066 has not yet made it out of committee, the House did successfully pass House Bill 4469. It has stalled in the Democrat-held state Senate though.
Supporters of the transgender athletes argue measures like these are discriminatory, stating “bans are both unnecessary and harmful.”
As for the MHSAA, it currently requires transgender high school athletes receive an approved waiver to compete in any organization-sponsored events, which include the district and regional tournaments. Republicans allege that the athlete in question did not receive that waiver.
“Our understanding is that despite multiple formal inquiries from member schools, the association has not confirmed that these required materials are on file,” the House letter from Republican women said. “Participation without an approved waiver violates MHSAA regulations and jeopardizes the safety, integrity, and fairness of the tournament for all female athletes.”
Due to those reports, the representatives asked that the MHSAA respond and confirm if the student received a waiver. If not, they asked that the student be declared ineligible for postseason games.
The MHSAA is currently preparing a response to the letter.
This is not the first controversy for the MHSAA and transgender athletes. In the spring, the association faced backlash from Republicans for “defiance” to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on transgender athletes in sports.
At that time, the MHSAA said it planned to comply with all applicable laws, as previously reported by The Center Square.
Republicans said “immediate action” is necessary from the association and policymakers to protect female athletes in Michigan.
“I will continue fighting for rules that keep competition fair and protect every girl who steps onto the court,” Steele said. “In the meantime, athletes, coaches, and parents all have a responsibility to protect women’s sports and #TakeAKnee.”
