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House GOP subpoenas USA fencing chairman to testify on trans sport's inclusion

House Republicans have subpoenaed USA Fencing (USFA) board chair Damien Lehfeldt in an effort to compel him to testify in front of Congress during a hearing examining the participation of transgender women in biologically women’s sports.  The subpoena comes after USA Fencing’s Chief Executive Officer Phil Andrews told the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, […]

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House GOP subpoenas USA fencing chairman to testify on trans sport's inclusion

House Republicans have subpoenaed USA Fencing (USFA) board chair Damien Lehfeldt in an effort to compel him to testify in front of Congress during a hearing examining the participation of transgender women in biologically women’s sports. 

The subpoena comes after USA Fencing’s Chief Executive Officer Phil Andrews told the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, which intends to hold the hearing on May 7, that Lehfeldt would be unavailable to testify for unspecified reasons, according to a letter sent in tandem with the subpoena. Lehfeldt’s apparent refusal to cooperate comes after he allegedly made public statements online indicating he had intended to be present at the hearing. 

“Under the Ted Stevens Act, an [National Governing Body]—such as USFA—is required to provide equal opportunities to athletes regardless of sex when engaged in developing interest and participation in the sport it governs throughout the United States,” the letter accompanying the subpoena stated, signed by GOP House Oversight Chairman James Comer. 

FEMALE FENCER DEFENDS PROTEST AGAINST TRANSGENDER OPPONENT 

“The Subcommittee is concerned that the policies of USFA may not uphold these obligations and that the underlying law is not accomplishing its intended purpose. Therefore, the Subcommittee is investigating whether additional legislation regarding requirements of NGBs of amateur sports, like USFA, is necessary to address these issues.”

Lehfeldt and Andrews have both publicly expressed their support for allowing transgender women to compete on biological women’s sports teams. House Republicans’ decision to subpoena Lehfeldt follows an incident when a female fencer named Stephanie Turner was punished by USA Fencing for refusing to compete against a transgender competitor earlier this year.

Turner, during a regional meet in March, refused to compete against a transgender competitor who had previously competed in the men’s division. A video of her taking a symbolic knee at the start of the match, eventually earning her a “black card,” fencing’s most severe penalty, went viral following the incident. Turner was ultimately disqualified from the event and escorted out of the venue immediately following her act of civil disobedience. 

ENGLAND SPORTS GOVERNING BODY BANS TRANSGENDER ATHLETES FROM WOMEN’S SOCCER FOLLOWING UK COURT RULING

“In fencing, personally, I see it quite often,” Turner said following the incident. “I have witnessed transgender fencers in women’s tournaments and girls’ tournaments in different age categories, specifically Y-14 (the youngest age group).” 

Fencer Stephanie Turner takes a knee instead of competing against a trans competitor

Fencer Stephanie Turner kneels in front of a USA Fencing official (Courtesy of ICONS)

The letter accompanying Lehfeldt’s subpoena said the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency requested multiple times that Lehfeldt provide an explanation for why he would not be in attendance to testify during the May 7 hearing. The letter said it exhausted several options to accommodate the USA Fencing board chair, including considering moving the date of the hearing and providing Lehfeldt extra time to obtain legal representation.

USA Fencing’s counsel subsequently asked the subcommittee whether it would be open to considering alternative witnesses, to which the committee said it would if they were made available on May 7. However, no reason for Lehfeldt’s unwillingness to testify was provided, according to House Republicans. 

MARK CUBAN WEIGHS IN ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: ‘PEOPLE JUST AREN’T READY’

Several days later USA Fencing indicated Andrews would be willing to participate in Lehfeldt’s place, if the hearing could be moved two days later to May 9, according to House Republicans. A day later, they said, Lehfeldt indicated to the subcommittee that he was formally declining to testify.

Sadie Schreiner with a trans flag

Sadie Schreiner puts a transgender flag in her hair before heading to the awards stand after finishing 3rd in the finals of the 200m race at the 2024 NCAA DIII outdoor track and field championships at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium on May 25, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Sadie, a transgender woman who competes on the Rochester Institute of Technology track team, is in the process of transitioning from a man to a woman.  Her success as a sprinter on the women’s track team at RIT has thrust her into the fiercest political battle in American sports. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

“While counsel for USFA did explain why they believed Mr. Andrews would be better suited to appear on behalf of the organization, their rationale for why Mr. Lehfeldt would not be a helpful witness was unpersuasive,” the subpoena letter stated. “To date, neither Mr. Lehfeldt nor anyone speaking on his behalf has provided any legitimate rationale for his refusal to testify.”

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“Mr. Lehfeldt is best positioned to discuss the current, past, and future policies of USFA––especially those policies related to transgender women competing in women’s sports,” the letter continued. “Information about the policies, strategic plan, and mission of USFA is necessary to advance the Subcommittee’s oversight and legislative purposes.”

In a statement to Fox News Digital USA Fencing’s Director of Communications Bryan Wendell confirmed receipt of the House GOP subpoena, adding that they will “of course comply with it.”

“Board Chair Damien Lehfeldt looks forward to appearing on May 7 to answer the DOGE Subcommittee’s questions,” Wendell concluded. “We will have no further comment until after the hearing.”

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Burns and Cooper Close Men’s Track & Field Season at NCAA West First Round

Story Links BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) men’s outdoor track & field team wrapped up its season Friday at the NCAA West First Round hosted by Texas A&M at E.B. Cushing Stadium.    Junior Aaron Cooper finished 30th after a good series of jumps that saw him improve with each […]

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) men’s outdoor track & field team wrapped up its season Friday at the NCAA West First Round hosted by Texas A&M at E.B. Cushing Stadium. 
 
Junior Aaron Cooper finished 30th after a good series of jumps that saw him improve with each attempt. Cooper cleared 48, 49 and 50 feet, capping his series with his best jump of the day at 15.37 meters, which is the fourth-best mark in program history. He matched his finish from last year’s NCAA West regional. 
 
Junior Corin Burns took 24th in the men’s 200-meter dash quarterfinals in 20.86, the No. 4 time in program history. Burns ran four of the five fastest 200 races in program history in his first year competing at UTRGV. 
 
The NCAA West meet wraps up Saturday with junior Achol Maywin competing in the women’s high jump semifinals at 3:30 p.m. 
 
UTRGV RESULTS
Friday, May 30 
Men’s triple jump first round
30. Aaron Cooper, 15.37m 
· 4th in program history 
 
Men’s 200-meter dash quarterfinals 
24. Corin Burns, 20.86
· 4th in program history 
 
Saturday, May 31 
Women’s high jump semifinal, 3:30 p.m. 
Achol Maywin (F2) 

Support UTRGV Track & Field | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube

 





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Stanford Water Polo Wins Big: 5 All-Americans and Major Awards

Stanford’s women’s water polo team has made history by sweeping the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) awards, including five All-American selections and major coaching honors. Ryann Neushul was named Player of the Year, with teammates Christine Carpenter, Jenna Flynn, and Jewel Roemer also recognized. John Tanner earned Head Coach of the Year, while […]

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Stanford’s women’s water polo team has made history by sweeping the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) awards, including five All-American selections and major coaching honors. Ryann Neushul was named Player of the Year, with teammates Christine Carpenter, Jenna Flynn, and Jewel Roemer also recognized. John Tanner earned Head Coach of the Year, while Susan Ortwein was named Assistant Coach of the Year. This marks the 21st consecutive season Stanford has produced multiple ACWPC All-Americans. Neushul’s unique seven-year collegiate career concluded with her as a four-time NCAA champion.

By the Numbers

  • Stanford has produced 64 All-Americans in its history, with these individuals accumulating 154 honors.
  • Neushul scored 60 goals, ranking second on her team, while Carpenter had 165 saves, allowing only double-digit goals in four games.

Yes, But

While Stanford’s dominance is notable, critics may point out the overall competitiveness of the NCAA landscape, questioning whether this achievement is sustainable long-term as new programs emerge.

State of Play

  • Stanford finished the season with a record of 25-1, securing its 10th NCAA title and third in the last four years.
  • The team maintained the No. 1 national ranking for most of the season and achieved an impressive 15-0 start.

What’s Next

As the NCAA championship landscape evolves, Stanford will likely continue to focus on maintaining its competitive edge, preparing for potential challenges from emerging programs in future seasons.

Bottom Line

Stanford’s remarkable achievement with sweeping awards mirrors its longstanding commitment to excellence in women’s water polo, signifying both current success and potential as a dominant force in the future.





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White-hot Yellow Jackets roar into volleyball state championship match

SPRINGFIELD — There may not be a hotter boys volleyball team in Ohio than the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets. And what a time to get hot! The Cinderella season that coach Chad Sivewright’s squad is authoring has reached the Division II state championship game at Wittenberg University’s Pam Evans Smith Arena. The Mount Vernon boys […]

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SPRINGFIELD — There may not be a hotter boys volleyball team in Ohio than the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets.

And what a time to get hot!

The Cinderella season that coach Chad Sivewright’s squad is authoring has reached the Division II state championship game at Wittenberg University’s Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The Mount Vernon boys volleyball team is shown here during Friday’s Division II state semifinal win against Nordonia at Wittenberg University. The Yellow Jackets will play Cincinnati McNicholas for a state championship at the same site on Saturday at 3 p.m. Credit: Ohio High School Athletic Association.

In Friday night’s Final Four clash, Mount Vernon overpowered favored Nordonia in a three-set sweep, 25-17, 25-14 and 25-19. The Knights’ season ends with a 20-7 record.

Zach Black and Hunter Thompson topped MV at the net with 11 kills apiece. Black and Thompson had seven digs each, too.

Isaiah Campbell was the quarterback of the offense with 29 assists. Black collected 15 points, Thompson 14 points and Cooper Swanson chipped in 7.5 points.

The Yellow Jackets (17-10) will play for a state championship in the newly sanctioned Ohio High School Athletic Association varsity sport on Saturday at 3 p.m. again at Wittenberg.

How hot is Sivewright’s squad?

Mount Vernon is riding a 10-match win streak and has rolled in 12 of its last 13 outings. In fact, the Yellow Jackets have won 15 of their last 16 sets over the past five contests.

The last loss was more than a month ago, a straight-set defeat at the hands of Lakota East on April 26.

Next up in the state championship match will be Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas. The Rockets (25-1) smashed Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 in the earlier state semifinal.

A caravan of supporters gathers to salute the Mount Vernon boys volleyball team before Friday’s state semifinal match in Springfield. Credit: Dan Werner.

Hometown caravan

By Dan Werner

It’s almost 100 miles from Mount Vernon High School to Pam Evans Arena on the campus of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.

Yet the Mount Vernon boys volleyball team certainly didn’t lack support at Friday’s state semifinal encounter.

Well-wishers formed a caravan to honor the team in downtown Mount Vernon on Friday morning.

Dodging raindrops and proudly sporting Mount Vernon Yellow Jacket gear, Steve and Jan Hall went to support their grandson, team member Cooper Swanson.

No doubt Saturday’s state championship match will draw an even stronger crowd as Mount Vernon plays for the crown.

Steve and Jan Hall were among the Yellow Jacket supporters that gathered in a support caravan on Friday before the Final Four match. Credit: Dan Werner.

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Igiede Named to U.S. Roster for VNL’s Opening Week

Story Links USA Volleyball Press Release COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Former University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball All-American Amber Igiede was among the 14 players named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the opening week of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League.   USA Volleyball […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Former University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball All-American Amber Igiede was among the 14 players named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the opening week of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League.
 
USA Volleyball announced on Friday the roster that will compete in the VNL’s first week of preliminary-round matches set for June 4-8 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U.S. will open against Italy on June 4 and faces Brazil on June 5, Czechia on June 6 and Korea on June 8. Matches will be shown live and on demand on VBTV.
 
Igiede is making her debut in the VNL, which features the world’s top 18 teams, and is among four middle blockers on the U.S. roster for opening week. Earlier in May, USA Volleyball announced a roster of 30 players, including eight middles, for the VNL and the coaching staff led by Erik Sullivan will select 14 for each week of the preliminary round.
 
The tournament opens with three weeks of preliminary play with each team competing in four matches per week. The second week is set for June 18-22 in Belgrade, Serbia and the third week will be played July 9-13 in Arlington, Texas. The top eight teams advance to the final round set for July 23-27 in Łódź, Poland.
 
Igiede was an AVCA All-America third-team selection in 2022 and 2023 and was an All-Big West first-team pick each of her four seasons with the Rainbow Wahine. She was part of the USA Volleyball Women’s Collegiate Team in 2022 and helped the U.S. claim silver in the NORCECA Pan American Cup in Mexico in 2024. She also played for LOVB Houston in League One Volleyball this season and was voted to the 2025 LOVB Icons first team.
 

#HawaiiWVB

 
 



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Holland Christian’s Grant VanderZee is Michigan’s first Mr. Volleyball

HOLLAND – When Grant VanderZee soars through the air and brings his arm back to swing it nearly looks in slow motion. But then he connects with the volleyball and a thunderous spike hits the floor in the blink of an eye and echoes throughout the gym. VanderZee’s legacy has become that loud, too. The […]

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HOLLAND – When Grant VanderZee soars through the air and brings his arm back to swing it nearly looks in slow motion.

But then he connects with the volleyball and a thunderous spike hits the floor in the blink of an eye and echoes throughout the gym.

VanderZee’s legacy has become that loud, too.

The 6-foot-6 Holland Christian senior was selected as Michigan’s very first Mr. Volleyball by the Michigan Volleyball Coaches Association.

“It means a lot. I don’t think it has sunk in yet. I didn’t even know I was nominated. I didn’t know Mr. Volleyball was even a thing. It is a testament to the hard work I have put in and the time and effort my friends and family and coaches have put in to me,” VanderZee said. “It means everything.”

VanderZee received a total of 26 points in the voting, edging Detroit Catholic Central’s Patrick Burke (25) and Rochester Adams’ Graham Pease (23). Rounding out the voting were Hudsonville’s Landon Dykema (19), Hudsonville’s Ryder Roberts (15), Rockford’s Graysen Williams (10), Hudsonville’s Aiden Bigelow (5), Lakeland’s Derek Varga (4) and Holland Christian’s Spencer Walraven (3).

VanderZee led the Maroons to a 32-8 record during the regular season. He posted 240 kills and averaged 10 kills per match playing both middle hitter and outside hitter.

“I have always been a two-foot jumper and my vertical is pretty high,” VanderZee said. “Volleyball just came pretty natural to me. Hard work just sets people apart. I love to win and am pretty competitive.”

No surprise, he also is the Holland Sentinel Volleyball Player of the Year.

Boys volleyball is slated to join the MHSAA as a sanctioned sport next year, but it has been a varsity sport for a few years and growing rapidly.

VanderZee wasn’t even planning on playing volleyball in the first place.

“I started freshman year. Our setter Spencer Walraven and I were going to play golf, but we were able to play volleyball instead,” he said. It worked out really well. We are rooming together at Grand Canyon with other friends from volleyball.”

VanderZee has earned all-state honors the past three years in volleyball, leading the Maroons to the Division 2 state semifinals last season.

“It is work ethic for sure and positive attitude. This is a game of momentum and it can be tough if you get down, but he keeps everybody positive and helps everyone play better,” Holland Christian coach Mark Walraven said. “Grant deserves it and hopefully he can inspire the middle schoolers and the freshman to reach that level.”

He was a 4.2 student, class president and a three-year varsity basketball player, among other activities.

“This award celebrates more than just the athletic skill,” said MIVCA’s Bre Johnson, who presented the award on Friday. “It honors excellence in leadership, academic achievement and character both on and off the court.”

He led the Maroons past the Dutch in the regional final on Friday at Holland Christian, their second consecutive title.”

In the first set, Holland pulled with in 22-21 before VanderZee slammed the door with a kill, then a block, then another kill for a 25-22 set win.

“It is big to represent the school and the team has done that and performed well. Holland has a great blocking team and they don’t make a lot of mistakes at the net. They forced us to minimize the mistakes we were making, and find opportunities to take advantage of some matchups,” Holland Christian coach Mark Walraven said.

In the second set, Holland took a narrow lead behind the setting of Ben Fletter and maintained it with a 25-22, Arthur Powell getting the kill for the Dutch on set point to tie the match 1-1.

“They came in with a lot of energy and confidence. To come in knowing we were playing one of the best teams in the state and Grant winning the award, our guys were motivated. Arthur, our all-conference player, really did a good job and our guys just have heart on heart on heart.”

VanderZee and the Maroons took out their frustrations in set three, winning 25-11, then closing the match in the fourth set with a 25-18 win.

“We came out with fire and got back to the fundamentals and put the ball away,” VanderZee said. “It means a lot. Last year, we lost in the semis. We have done great with a younger group and have advanced a lot this year.”

The Maroons will face Grand Rapids Christian at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, at Sparta in the Division 2 quarterfinals.

But whatever happens from here, VanderZee will forever be Michigan’s first Mr. Volleyball.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.   





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Louison-Roe Makes Regional Debut on Day Three of NCAA West First Round

Story Links COLLEGE STATION, Texas—CSUN Track & Field’s Jay Louison-Roe made his regional debut in the men’s triple jump at the NCAA West First Round on Friday inside E.B. Cushing Stadium.   Louison-Roe’s best leap in the triple jump came on his third and final attempt where he set a mark […]

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas—CSUN Track & Field’s Jay Louison-Roe made his regional debut in the men’s triple jump at the NCAA West First Round on Friday inside E.B. Cushing Stadium.
 
Louison-Roe’s best leap in the triple jump came on his third and final attempt where he set a mark of 15.37m (50-5.25). That jump would give him a 31st-place finish out of the 48-athlete field but falling short of advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Louison-Roe also produced a jump of 13.86m (45-5.75) in his second attempt at the meet.  
 
The junior wrapped up a strong first season with the Matadors in 2025. After transferring from the University of Louisiana Monroe, Louison-Roe won his first career conference title as this year’s Big West Championship when he took first in the triple jump with PR of 15.67m (51-5). In all, Louison-Roe won three triple jump events this outdoor season.
 
UP NEXT
CSUN’s last representative in the NCAA West First Round, Summer Mosley, will compete in the women’s discus on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT.
 
#GoMatadors
 



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