Sports

Joe Maddon thinks Major League Baseball has issues. You might find them relatable

Editor’s Note: This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic’s new desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Peak aims to connect readers to ideas they can implement in their own personal and professional lives. Follow Peak here. There is no shortage of people who criticize the influence of […]

Published

3 weeks ago

April 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Joe Maddon thinks Major League Baseball has issues. You might find them relatable

Editor’s Note: This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic’s new desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Peak aims to connect readers to ideas they can implement in their own personal and professional lives. Follow Peak here.

There is no shortage of people who criticize the influence of data and analytics in baseball these days. I knew Joe Maddon had become one of those critics, but I also knew something else: Maddon was the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays when the organization was at the forefront of the analytics revolution in the 2000s.

That is part of the reason I wanted to talk to Maddon, who also won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs and managed the LA Angels. But there was another reason: I had a hunch that other people feel the same tension — caught between two worlds — in their own professional lives. I know I do.

In so many aspects of my life, there is an overwhelming amount of data and information available, from how many people read my stories to how much time I spend on my phone each week. At times, it feels like data dictates too much of my life, or at least influences too many of my decisions. Isn’t there value in just doing something because your instinct tells you it’s the right decision? In a world full of information, should we still trust our gut and creative impulses?

That’s what Maddon and I talked about during our conversations over multiple interviews, edited and condensed for clarity.

If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll probably find plenty to argue about. And if you’re not a baseball fan, or even much of a sports fan, I hope there are ideas on leadership, creativity and criticism that feel relevant to you.

You sent me something you wrote in which you said that your definition of leadership has changed. How?

In the past, I always received direction from whoever was in charge, but then I was permitted to go out and do the job as I perceived was the right way to do it. I’ll give you an example. When I first started as a bench coach in the mid-90s, there was no pamphlet on how to be a bench coach. I didn’t get any direction. The assumption was that I was there to advise the manager on a daily basis, primarily during the course of the game. Before games, I would put together scouting reports and breakdowns. I didn’t get any real direction on that either.

My point is, when I started doing that, nobody told me what to do. At all. I built all these programs because I felt, if I was a manager, this is what I would want. I was empowered to be the bench coach. I felt free to do my job. I never felt controlled. I felt the exact opposite.

So what’s changed?

As a coach, I’m not out there creating my own methods. I’m following the methods that are being given to me, primarily through data and information. Which is good. Because when it comes to data today, it’s not just me scouting the other team. Data today combines every play, every pitch, so of course it’s going to be accurate. But the point is, all of that stuff is taken from upstairs (the front office) to downstairs (the coaches). There’s no leeway to make adjustments anymore based on what you see.

When I was with the Angels, Brian Butterfield, my infield coach, would want to make micro-adjustments during a game based on defense, where a hitter might be late on the ball. All of a sudden, the ball is going away from the planned spot. But if he moved the infielders, as an example, after the game he was told: “Just play the dots.” In other words, coaches became neutered because if you attempted to do that, that was considered going rogue. Just follow the dots. Stop thinking. Stop using your experience. Stop using your sense of feel and what you’re seeing. Just follow the dots.

Just to make sure I understand what you’re saying: You think leaders need to give people information, but then empower them to make their own decisions, not restrict them.

Yes.

Let me ask you this: Why does this change bother you?

Because it neuters your years of work. And it doesn’t permit you to react to a situation that you absolutely see as being different. All these numbers are based on large sample sizes, and I understand that. To me, a large sample size is pretty much infallible when it comes down to acquisitions in the offseason. But it is fallible when it comes down to trends in the moment.

So when you’re talking about how to set my defense on August 15, or how to pitch somebody on August 15, I need something more immediate and not just a large sample size. What is he like right now? Has he changed? Has he lost his confidence, or is he more confident than he’s ever been? There are fluctuations with people. That’s my problem: It bothers me that coaches, managers, whoever are not permitted to use their years of experience to make adjustments in the moment based on what they see.

The game tends to be unpredictable, and in a hot moment you have to be able to be creative and flexible when you’re actually seeing something.

We’re talking specifically about your experience with baseball, but I think a lot of people in a lot of different jobs feel this real tension between data and feel or creativity, whatever you want to call it.

Agreed. I do a lot of talks about this, and I try to address all of this. It has to be understood that, first of all, I’m into all of this stuff. I want the numbers. I want analytics. I want you to give me stuff in advance. Absolutely I want all of that. But once you’ve given it to me, you have to understand that this is a fluid exercise. Theory and reality are two completely different worlds. So when theory starts breaking down during the course of a game, then it becomes reality. If it always goes according to script, God bless you, that’s wonderful. But that rarely ever happens. So, for me, feel and experience allow you to see things a little bit in advance that maybe someone else can’t see or feel. That’s where a manager or a coach can make a difference.

That’s where I’m really trying to explain myself, and I think executives and people in other industries feel the same way. They feel hamstrung. Because they’re being controlled as opposed to empowered. Everybody wants information; nobody wants to run away from good information. But you always have to feel the empowerment to remain flexible and make snap decisions when things just don’t seem to be going well or right. Because when things get hot, things get quicker and people change. You have to be able to read that in order to make the necessary adjustments based on this moment. And that’s what I believe is the gift of experience. Feel is the gift of experience.

Maddon believed it was important to have relationships and know his players. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

You shared something with me that you sent to your players when you were the manager in Tampa. You wrote: “Conventional Wisdom be damned. We are in the process of creating our own little world. Our way of doing things. The Ray Way. To those of you who feel as though this sounds ‘corny’ wait a couple of years and you will see how corny turns into ‘cool,’ and everyone stands in line to copy our methods.” What I loved about that, Joe, is that in many ways, you were part of the process with the Rays that created the world that we’re in. What do you make of that?

The Rays at that time were kind of ahead of the curve. That’s when being analytically inclined was in the minority and being old school was in majority. Now the tables have turned.

I’ve always loved that saying, “corny becomes cool,” because we used to be criticized for the things we did. For example, shifting. The four-man outfield we used. We were criticized heavily for that. They think they know everything! But it’s gotten to the point now where it’s taken on another life, almost to where it’s become an extreme. I like the word balance. I don’t like extremism either way, either too conservative or too liberal. I believe I’m a centrist even in the baseball world. I think in my life I am. I want to see both sides. I want to incorporate everything.

So I’m not advocating for all old school. Not at all. Not even a bit. I’m advocating for balance.

You told me once that from day one, you told your players: “You have my trust and now I have to earn yours.” Why did you say that?

Because I wanted them to understand how important that was. I wanted them to know that, from my perspective, there were 40 guys on the team, all with different personalities. They had my trust and I needed to really infiltrate each one of them so they would trust me in return.

How did you do that?

You don’t miss things. You have to see things. You know when someone needs your help, you know when you have to stand out of the way, you know what guys you can be more blunt with and who will crumble from bluntness. You have to read every individual, and it only happens through a daily discourse.

You texted me something: “Wear your thick skin. Criticism is not taken as an attack … but as a debate seeking the best possible answers.” I’m so thin-skinned. Painfully thin-skinned. How did you develop thick skin?

Wow. Well, I grew up in eastern Pennsylvania. I was a quarterback when I was 10. I was calling audibles when I was 10. I called all my plays in a huddle when I was 10. When I screwed up, those coaches, Richie and Si, they beat me up a little bit. One time I threw an interception and they said I quit on trying to tackle the guy. They told me I was a quitter. I was 11, and we only lost one game in the three years that I started at quarterback. But they called me a quitter one day.

High school football. Adam Sieminski. Toughest, toughest mother I’ve ever had to play for anywhere. He’d chew you out up and down on the sideline during a game. It would be 25 degrees and he’d be out there in a short-sleeve shirt and I’d go to talk to him and his teeth would be chattering so hard I couldn’t understand a damn thing he said. But he wanted to show us how tough he was. And he was.

I mean, these are the guys who made me tough. You had to wear it. Your skin gets thicker, you become more calloused. And eventually you get to the point where you can have a good, open, blistering debate or conversation.

Bob Clear, my mentor of all mentors. I did this instructional league in the ’80s. That morning in the Arizona Republic I’d seen a picture of Mark McGwire with his hands on the bat, palm up, palm down, and I was saying how much I loved that picture and his hand placement. And Bob said: “You’re full of s—. The hands should be in this position. What the f— are you talking about?” I said: “F— you, Bob!” And we argued for 30 minutes, back and forth, screaming at each other. And then we walked out on the field arm in arm.

I respected — I adored — this guy, but because we could argue like that, I learned. He always used to tell me: “I’m just trying to make you think.” That’s it. I’m just trying to make you think. You try to do that now and people crumble.

One thing I struggle with: When people go through tough stuff like that, they can become really thankful for it. But I’m also always a little leery of nostalgia, because it can sometimes erase how miserable those times were. Where do you stand on that? Tough coaching, the appropriate way to treat people, that’s all an active conversation now.

I just like straightforwardness. There’s a great line: Honesty without compassion equals cruelty. So you always have to gauge your honesty and what they can take. But I just would prefer seeing a little more straightforwardness and not dissembling or providing a soft landing because I don’t think that’s helping anyone.

Listen, I’m not talking about parting somebody’s hair all the time. But you can’t always paint it in a way or else the person you’re speaking to is going to miss the point. You’ve got to make sure that it’s firm enough. Understand your audience, always. But one of my lines is: If I tell you the truth, you might not like me for five or 10 days. But if I lie to you, then you’re going to hate me forever.

Maddon led the Chicago Cubs to the franchise’s first World Series title in 108 years. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images)

You told me once when you were coaching in the instructional league that you sat down with every player to go over not just their strengths but to hammer their weaknesses.

I took a piece of paper and made it into quadrants and created a form on my laptop, which weighed about 25 pounds at the time. This was all me; I didn’t get any input from any of the coaches or the front office. Nobody. This was just my scouting acumen at work because not everybody was on board with this.

The top left quadrant would be positives. Top right quadrant would be negatives. The bottom left quadrant would be after they heard my positives and negatives, they would tell me their idea of what they wanted to get out of the instructional league. And then the bottom right would be the summary that I would write based on the positives, negatives, their input and then what I saw. I would give them that piece of paper. Why?

Because when a player walks out on a field — minor league, major league, doesn’t matter — there’s always a sense of: “What do they really think about me? How do they see me? What’s the plan for me?” I used to hear that all the time: “What’s the plan?” So I figured if we could get this out in the open early, then when we saw each other on or off the field, there would be nothing in the background lurking. I think it’s the most open and honest way to create relationships and communication.

What do you think baseball has gotten wrong about leadership? Not just analytics but leadership.

It’s not just baseball. Very simply put: I always felt that I was hired to do a job and then permitted to do my job. I feel like in today’s world, people are hired to do a job only the way they want them to do the job. The outline they’re going to give you to do the job. It prevents the imagination from soaring. It prevents creativity. The moment you feel restricted, your imagination ceases to exist. Because why go there? Why ever ponder in bed at night? Why grind all day long over lunch? Why grind over different ways to make something better?

One thing that I struggle with is that we have such easy access to every kind of metric or piece of data. For instance, with our stories, we can see exactly how many people are in them at any moment, how long they’re spending, when they stop reading.

Wow.

What I think our whole conversation is circling back to is we’re in a real tension between data versus art, or whatever you want to call it. I would guess that that’s applicable in almost any field. We’re all overloaded with data and we almost use data as a safety net. I get why; it is comforting. But I think we’ve got to leave room for instinct and experimentation.

Here’s one thing I wrote the other day. I was driving and sending texts to myself so I wouldn’t forget: Can data replace talent as the number one reason why groups are successful? Can numbers teach poise? Can numbers teach competitive nature? Can numbers teach instinct?

This is what I think has become blurred a bit. Everybody thinks analytics is the reason; it’s not. It’s not the reason. The reason why the Dodgers are good? They have a good analytical department, but they’ve got really good talent. They’re able to acquire good talent and pay them, but they do a good job of identifying talent. Data and analytics, that’s the number one superstar component of that. That’s where you really do a good job. That’s why the Brewers have been good, that’s why the Rays have been good: They’re able to look under the hood and identify talent that nobody else sees. That, to me, is where analytics really shine.

But can numbers teach poise? Can numbers teach competitiveness? Can numbers teach instinct? Those are the things that separate winners and losers.

You can read last week’s interview with Tara VanDerveer, one of the winningest basketball coaches of all time, here.

(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

Sports

Track and Field Wraps CAA Championships With Handful of Medals and Program Records

Story Links GREENSBORO, N.C.— The William & Mary track and field program wrapped up the CAA Championships on Thursday in a day that featured a handful of podium finishes as well as program records. The Tribe men earned a third-place finish over the two days while the women earned a tie […]

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6 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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GREENSBORO, N.C.— The William & Mary track and field program wrapped up the CAA Championships on Thursday in a day that featured a handful of podium finishes as well as program records.

The Tribe men earned a third-place finish over the two days while the women earned a tie for fourth.

Brian Walsh battled his way to the top spot on the podium and the CAA title in the decathlon. Walsh earned 7,076 points over the two days in the 10 events to earn the gold. The total is best CAA Championship Meet performance ever in the decathlon and makes him the second best performer in the event in program history.

Emily Ervin not only earned a silver medal in the 400m on Thursday afternoon but put herself in the W&M history books in the process. Ervin crossed the line with a time of 54.07 making her the new program record holder for the Tribe in the event.

Armon Wright had a great day for W&M in the triple jump with an effort of 15.51m (50-10.75) to grab second place and silver in the event. The mark was not wind-legal, but Wright’s second-best effort of the day, 15.40m (50-6.25), is the second-best performance in school history and the best since 1990 for the Tribe.

The Tribe found early success on Thursday morning in the pole vault with Elizabeth Strobach and Olesya Sitkowski earning silver and bronze respectively in the event. Strobach cleared 3.90m on her first try, while Sitkowski posted the same mark on her third attempt to put herself on the podium.

W&M earned medals in both the men’s and women’s 1500m thanks to Caleb Wilcox and Kyra Holland.

Wilcox earned the silver and runner-up honors with a time of 3:51.42 on Thursday afternoon. Holland posted a personal-best time of 4:23.96 to earn the bronze and finish just a half second out of first place.

The women’s 4x400m relay team of Avery Glidden, Kianne Benjamin, Emily Ervin and Aurora Schwaner earned the final medal of the day for the Tribe. The quartet got the better of Elon in a photo finish for the bronze, posting a time of 3:44.61.

The men’s 4x400m relay team of Jacob Robinson, David Seekford, Charlie Bestic and Austin Rice broke their own program record with a time of 3:09.63 for a fourth-place finish. The quartet now holds the three fastest times in school history.

Hayes Trapp narrowly missed out on the podium grabbing fourth out of 15 competitors in the 5,000m. The sophomore crossed the line with a time of 14:56.82.

The Tribe will wait and see what athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships East Region Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Fla. The qualifying field will be announced on May 22 with the prelims taking place on May 28-31.

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Sports

Wartburg Outdoor Track & Field at NCAA Final Qualifier: Thursday

Story Links ROCK ISLAND, Illinois- The Wartburg outdoor track and field teams have completed day two of the NCAA Final Qualifier. Mason Lobeck and Christian Nunley both earned top five finishes in today’s competition. Women’s Competitors Shot Put 14 Abby Veld 12.28m 40-03.50 Discus Invite 8 Abby Veld 40.00m 131-02 […]

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19 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois- The Wartburg outdoor track and field teams have completed day two of the NCAA Final Qualifier. Mason Lobeck and Christian Nunley both earned top five finishes in today’s competition.

Women’s Competitors
Shot Put
14         Abby Veld                                     12.28m 40-03.50

Discus Invite
8            Abby Veld                                     40.00m 131-02

Discus
11         Tara Jochumsen 40.54m 133-00

Men’s Competitors
Shot Put
4            Mason Lobeck                           16.14m 52-11.50

Discus Invite
5            Christian Nunley                       49.10m 161-01

Up Next
Qualifiers for the NCAA Championships will be announced tomorrow. The Championships take place on May 22 (Thu) – May 24 (Sat) in Geneva, Ohio.

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Sports

41 Blue Jays Earn Centennial Conference Academic Honors

Story Links LANCASTER, PA – The Johns Hopkins women’s outdoor track and field program had 42 student-athletes receive Centennial Conference Academic honors, the league announced Thursday. 17 Blue Jays were named Academic All-Centennial, while 42 Blue Jays were named to the CC Spring Academic Honor Roll. The Spring Academic All-Centennial Team consisted of […]

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35 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LANCASTER, PA – The Johns Hopkins women’s outdoor track and field program had 42 student-athletes receive Centennial Conference Academic honors, the league announced Thursday. 17 Blue Jays were named Academic All-Centennial, while 42 Blue Jays were named to the CC Spring Academic Honor Roll.

The Spring Academic All-Centennial Team consisted of 178 student-athletes. To be nominated for the Academic All-Centennial Team, a student-athlete must receive both All-Conference and Academic Honor Roll honors.

A total of 1,029 student-athletes were honored on the Spring Academic Honor Roll. To be nominated for the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must be a sophomore or higher in class standing and attain a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher.

Academic All-Centennial

Lorna Arcese – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Sara Bartlett – Public Health Studies
Aisling Callahan – Public Health Studies
Jaclyn Donoho – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Erika Ezumba – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Annie Huang – Organizational Leadership
Emma Kothari – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Ellie Lewis – Medicine, Science and the Humanities
Lianne Saussy – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Harrinee Senthilkumar – Neuroscience
Sarah Soto – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Jamie Stelnik – Computer Science
Lily Tremba – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Diana Valentini – Mechanical Engineering
Phoebe Williams – Chemistry
Chloe Zhang – Biomedical Engineering
Anna Zinsser – Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences

Spring Academic Honor Roll

Rachel Allison – Biomedical Engineering
Eleni Alvarez – Public Health Studies
Lorna Arcese – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Sara Bartlett – Public Health Studies
Carina Beritela – Neuroscience
Natalie Boquist – Public Health Studies
Cassidy Brown – Public Health Studies
Aisling Callahan – Public Health Studies
Adriana Catalano – Public Health Studies
Emily Chen – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Cameron Coletti – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Jaclyn Donoho – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Erika Ezumba – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Hilary Gallito – History
Imani Ghosh – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Rebecca Herrick – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Annie Huang – Organizational Leadership
Emma Kothari – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Molly Kuzma – Chemistry
Ellie Lewis – Medicine, Science and the Humanities
Natasha Lewis – Neuroscience
Viviana Li – Neuroscience
Sofia LoVuolo – Computer Science
Amaiah McIntosh – Public Health Studies
Sophie Nilsson – Psychology
Isabelle Nobili – Environmental Sciences
Triya Roy – Engineering Management
Lianne Saussy – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Harrinee Senthilkumar – Neuroscience
Mackenzie Setton – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Sarah Soto – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Jamie Stelnik – Computer Scienec
Isabella Tasser – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Lydia Tolerico – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Lily Tremba – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Diana Valentini – Mechanical Engineering
Claire Wang – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Phoebe White – Biochemistry-Molecular Biology
Phoebe Williams – Chemistry
Anna Zaeske – Molecular & Cellular Biology
Chloe Zhang – Biomedical Engineering
Anna Zinsser – Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences

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Sports

MEAC Completes Day 1 of 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Story Links Complete Results NORFOLK, Va., May. 15, 2025– The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) kicked off its 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday afternoon at William “Dick” Price Stadium on the campus of Norfolk State University. Six gold medals were awarded on day one. The Norfolk State men’s team and the […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Complete Results

NORFOLK, Va., May. 15, 2025– The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) kicked off its 2025 Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday afternoon at William “Dick” Price Stadium on the campus of Norfolk State University. Six gold medals were awarded on day one. The Norfolk State men’s team and the Morgan State women’s team led the team scores with 44 and 18 points respectively.

Delano Lawrence of Maryland Eastern Shore captured the first gold medal of the championship with a winning toss of 52.61 meters in the men’s discus event.

Cailyn Johnson won gold in the women’s discus event with a throw of 48.02m giving the Morgan State Bears their first medal of the meet.

N.C. Central’s Tia Lucas claimed the gold medal in the women’s high jump with a personal-best mark of 1.77 meters.

Delaware State’s Ja’Mari Manson and N.C. Central’s Jonathan Raijon-Kroger went jump for jump in the men’s high jump event both clearing the 2.09m mark. Manson successfully cleared the 2.12m height to win the first gold medal for the Hornets.

Rounding out day one was the men’s and women’s 10,000m races. Norfolk State’s distance runners emerged on top claiming one, two, three in both events. Mercyline Kimaiyo won the women’s gold medal with a time of 39:27.00, while Gidion Sigei won the men’s race with a 30:36.11 time.

For more information, visit the Championship Central page.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 54th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2024-25 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.

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Sports

Trump admin confronts California over trans athlete in girls track championship

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid […]

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May 16, 2025

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EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump’s administration is putting California and Governor Gavin Newsom on notice ahead of a controversial track and field postseason meet that will feature a biologically male trans athlete competing in the girls’ category.

The U.S. Department of Education called out Newsom, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and Jurupa Valley High School over the upcoming meet and previous reporting that CIF officials made competitors at last Saturday’s postseason event remove their “Protect Girls Sports” shirts throughout the day.

“CIF’s and Jurupa Valley High School’s apparent flouting of federal civil rights law by allowing a male athlete to compete in a female California track and field [Southern Sectional Division 3 Final] this Saturday, and the alleged retaliation against the girls who are protesting this, is indefensible,” Julie Hartman, a Department of Education spokeswoman, told Fox News Digital.

The CIF is already under a federal Title IX investigation over the state’s trans inclusion practices.

“California Governor Gavin Newsom, who in a startling moment of moral clarity, recently remarked that it was ‘deeply unfair’ for men to compete in women’s sports,” Hartman continued. “Where is Governor Newsom now? With or without the Governor, the Trump Administration’s Department of Education’s commitment is unwavering: we will not allow institutions to trample upon women’s civil rights. OCR’s investigation into CIF continues with vigor.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

California girls’ track and field athletes protest trans inclusion in girls’ sports at a postseason meet at Yorba Linda High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025 (Courtesy of Sophia Lorey)

California’s high school sports league was one of the first in the nation to openly announce its defiance of President Donald Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order. Now, the state is facing growing unrest from its own residents over the issue in addition to the federal investigation.

A trans track and field athlete for Jurupa Valley High School will be competing in the high jump, triple jump and long jump after advancing in the prelims last Saturday. The athlete took a top-9 spot in those events, keeping three female athletes from advancing, while taking first in the triple jump.

Brea Olinda student Julia Teven, 17, is one of the athletes set to face the trans competitor on Saturday. Teven is also one of the few female athletes to have beaten Jurupa Valley’s athlete this year, tying for first place in the high jump at the prelims last Saturday, while the trans athlete finished eighth.

However, Teven also claimed she has seen the trans athlete jump much higher in social media posts, and acknowledges that the athlete could still beat her this upcoming Saturday, noting the scoring system of the final is different than the prelims.

“He could beat me, for this one he didn’t, but looking forward he could,” Teven said,

Still, Teven doesn’t blame the athlete for the issue, she blames the institution allowing it.

“I genuinely believe he doesn’t have a harmful intent towards girls sports. I think it’s the kind of like, CIF allowing him that’s kind of put him in his position,” Teven said. “I think genuinely, he’s just, like, being enabled by the CIF, and he’s just taking his opportunity presented to him.”

Crean Lutheran student Reese Hogan, 16, also finished ahead of the trans athlete in high jump, at fifth place. But it was a different story during triple jump.

The trans athlete dominated the event, winning by more than four feet over the runner-up.

Hogan finished third, and would have placed one spot higher were it not for the trans athlete.

“It’s just kind of sad just watching. He’s obviously a really talented athlete, we’ve all seen him jump and stuff, and I wish him the best of luck, but in a boys’ division,” Hogan said. “It’s pretty obvious the certain advantages that he has, and it’s obviously just sad as a woman to watch that.”

TEEN GIRLS OPEN UP ON TRANS ATHLETE SCANDAL THAT TURNED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL INTO A CULTURE WAR BATTLEGROUND

California high school girls’ athletes wear ‘Protect Girls Sports’ shirts at a postseason track meet at Yorba Linda High School on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Courtesy of Reese Hogan)

The competitors had to wait through an hours-long delay on Saturday to finish the competition after temperatures exceeded over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, putting the meet in a heat danger delay.

The heated nature of the event extended into the temper’s of the spectators.

The meet was overshadowed by controversy and protest, as activists held a live press conference that saw students, parents and even public education officials bash the CIF and state government for allowing what was happening that day.

The CIF has acknowledged that its officials made athletes at the meet take off the “Protect Girls Sports” shirts that they wore in protest, claiming it was due to standard apparel policy.

“Per the CIF Southern Section Playoff Bulletin, all athletes must be dressed in proper, school issued, track uniforms. The student-athletes were asked to comply with this while in the on-field event area, as they were wearing said shirts over their school-issued uniform,” the CIF said in a statement.

However, witnesses allege that the officials did not give the same orders to athletes wearing non-school-issued gear that didn’t include the “Protect Girls Sports” message.

Footage on social media shows some spectators chanting “that’s a boy!” at the athlete. But Hogan and fellow Crean Lutheran student Olivia Viola told Fox News digital that other fans only cheered for the trans athlete during the event while remaining silent for the female competitors.

“I know it was like, really, really split, specifically, like when he was jumping, and it was like you could visibly see it, almost like it felt like half the stadium was, like, against it. And then there was like a little chunk of people over here that would, like, cheer really loudly for everything he did,” Viola said.

“It just was bothersome to me. It was a little bit sad to hear people cheering louder for the biological male competing in a female sport than the females competing in the female sports. That part was just a little bit, that part was saddening to me.”

Viola, who will also compete against the trans athlete on Saturday, added that she also puts the blame on the CIF for hostile, conflicting crowds at the meet.

“I think it’s 100% on the people in authority who are allowing it to happen and not him, not this athlete. I don’t want the protests to be turned against this athlete, I want it to be turned and I do think most of us want it to be turned against the people in authority and the adults who need to stand up for us and CIF,” Viola said.

Some public institutions in California already are standing up, including Hogan and Viola’s school.

Three California Christian schools have spoken out against the CIF over the situation. JSerra Catholic High School, Orange Lutheran High School and Crean Lutheran High School sent a joint letter to the CIF last week, calling out the issue that has erupted for religious schools this track and field season.

“CIF’s Gender Identity Policy also fosters an environment that is increasingly hostile to religious member schools. CIF’s expectation that all faith-based schools facilitate the CIF Gender Identity Policy puts religious schools in the untenable position of adhering to the tenets of their faith in their classrooms and communities but practicing something contrary to their faith on their athletic fields,” the letter read.

California Family Council outreach director told Fox News Digital that parents plan to protest at the southern sectional final.

“As a former CIF and college athlete in California, I am beyond grateful and encouraged to finally see an administration that is boldly standing up for girls. The Trump administration’s willingness to call out the injustice happening at CIF and Jurupa High School is exactly what female athletes across this state have been waiting for,” Lorey said.

CALIFORNIA GIRL OPENS UP ON FIGHTING LEGAL AND POLITICAL BATTLE OVER TRANS ATHLETES AFTER LIFE-CHANGING PAIN

The Jurupa Unified School District provided a statement to Fox News Digital responding to the Department of Education’s statement, defending its continued enabling of biological males in girls’ sports.

“JUSD continues to follow both California law and CIF policy regarding school athletics. Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records. JUSD remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of the students we serve, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws,” the statement read.

California has been a minefield of controversial incidents involving trans athlete inclusion in girls’ and women’s sports for over a year, which has included multiple incidents involving volleyball teams, girls’ basketball teams and girls’ cross country.

Some of the incidents have even prompted forfeits and even lawsuits.

Newsom addressed the issue during an episode of his podcast in early March.

“Well, I think it’s an issue of fairness,” Newsom said to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. “I completely agree with you on that. It’s deeply unfair.

“So that’s easy to call out the unfairness of that. There’s also a humility and a grace… these poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression, and the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.

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“So both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think you know is inherent in you, but not always expressed on the issue?

“The question you’re asking is the question we’ve been asking ourselves for months and haven’t been able to answer. What is that line? How can you make this fair? I haven’t been able to figure it out, and I’m about as transparent about this as anybody out there, especially in my party on this. To the extent someone can and do it in a way that’s respectful and responsible and could find the kind of balance, then I’m open to that discussion.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office, and the CIF for comment.

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Sports

Track & Field Captures Multiple MIAC Awards

Story Links 2025 MIAC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Awards 2025 MIAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Awards BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The MIAC announced the award winners for the 2025 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday and Gustavus […]

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May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The MIAC announced the award winners for the 2025 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday and Gustavus was well represented as Kelley Brennan was named Field Athlete of the Year, Megan Geraets earned Track Athlete of the Year, and Aaron Lund was selected Coach of the Year.

Brennan garners her second consecutive Field Athlete of the Year honor after earning All-Conference in three throwing events. Brennan won the discus with a mark of 139-09, finished runner up in the shot put with a throw of 42-6.75, and took third in the hammer throw with a heave of 166-04. Brennan is the seventh different Gustie to be named MIAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year since 1997 and the third in the last six seasons. She is also the first individual to repeat as MIAC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year since Carleton’s Amelia Campbell won three in a row from 2014-16.

Geraets had a banner performance at the conference meet, winning four races and adding a first place finish in the long jump with a meet record distance of 18-9.75. In the 200-meter, Geraets won the prelims with a time of 24.42 and then won the finals in 24.40. The 400-meter was the top performance of her career as she won the prelims with a meet record time of 55.26 and then crushed the record again in the finals with a blistering time of 53.87, which is the top time in Division III this season and 10th all time. She joins Erica Stone (1998-99) and Birgen Nelson (2022-23) as Gustavus women’s track standouts to receive the conference honor.

Lund was voted by his peers as Coach of the Year for the third time in the past four seasons after leading the Gusties to their third MIAC outdoor title in the past four years. His squad earned both the Field and Track Athletes of the Year, captured 14 All-Conference honors, and 10 honorable mentions.

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