A trio of high school athletes filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn all sports records set by transgender students in Oregon and ban them from participating in future girls’ competitions.

The track and field athletes filed suit in U.S. District Court in Oregon on Monday, alleging they were outranked by transgender competitors or were forced to withdraw from competition in protest during the 2024-2025 school year.

The suit, which demands a permanent injunction from a judge but only nominal damages, names as defendants Gov. Tina Kotek as functional head of the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon School Activities Association, which oversees interscholastic events.

It also targets the Newberg School District, attended by two of the plaintiffs; the Forest Grove School District, from which the third athlete recently graduated; and Portland Public Schools, where a small number of transgender athletes have competed in girls’ track and field events.

The litigation comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Feb. 5 threatening to end all federal funding to states that allow transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports.

Trump ordered an investigation into Portland Public Schools and the school activities association days later. It remains ongoing. Oregon netted about $1.8 billion in federal education funds last fiscal year, according to the lawsuit.

State education leaders have only doubled down since then, issuing rules in April requiring all schools to allow students to join athletic programs that match their gender identity.

The plaintiffs, however, argue Oregon rules violate Title IX, the landmark 1972 law that banned discrimination based on sex in educational settings.

Due to the inclusion of transgender athletes, the plaintiffs “placed lower in the Oregon high school statewide rankings and were not recognized,” according to the lawsuit, which was brought by the America First Policy Institute, a thinktank founded by various Trump administration officials

The plaintiffs are S.C. and her parents Randy and Tiffany Castaneda of Carlton; S.N.C. and her parents Adam and Rebecca Carpenter of Newberg; and Madelyn Eischen, an 18-year-old graduate of Forest Grove High.

In a phone interview, Eischen said she withdrew from the girls high jump during an April 18 meet because a transgender athlete was set to compete.

“I definitely do not hate any trans athletes. I just think I am asking for fairness and protection,” she said.

S.N.C. withdrew from the Chehalem Classic meet on April 18 after learning she’d be participating against a transgender athlete, which the litigation says will hurt her chances of winning college admission or scholarships.

S.C. took third place in the girls 200-meter and 400-meter dash during 2024 state track & field championships, according to court papers, while a transgender athlete from Portland finished first and second.

After those 2024 wins sparked a social media firestorm, the McDaniel High School student told The Oregonian/OregonLive in May she planned to leave the country for her safety.

Spokespeople for the OSAA, education department and Portland Public Schools had no immediate comment on the litigation.

—Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Utah Valley’s men’s track and field athlete Gabe Remy and UT Arlington volleyball athlete Brianna Ford were each recognized as the 2024-25 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Joe Kearney Award winners. Named in honor of longtime WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female student-athletes in the WAC during the preceding academic year.

Remy won three events during the 2025 WAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Arlington, capturing the 100-meter dash (10.09), the 200-meter dash (20.41) and running with the victorious 4×100-meter relay team (39.31) from Utah Valley. Remy claimed second team All-America accolades with the Wolverines 4×100-meter relay team that finished 10th at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships with a time of 38.90.

Remy captured a total of five career conference championship event victories, adding a 2024 WAC Indoor Championships 60-meter dash (6.69) crown and a 2024 WAC Outdoor Championships triumph with the Utah Valley 4×100 relay team (39.21) to his career accolades.

Ford helped lead UTA to its first volleyball conference tournament championship since 2002 with a thrilling five-set win over Grand Canyon in the 2024 WAC Volleyball Tournament title match. Ford was named WAC Player of the Year and an AVCA All-America honorable mention selection with career bests in hitting percentage (.304), digs per set (2.90) and kills per set (4.47) as a graduate student in 2024.

Ford was a four-time all-conference performer at UTA, earning All-WAC First Team accolades each of her final three seasons (2022-24). Ford also added seven WAC Player of the Week citations during her career with the Mavericks. Ford was the second UTA winner of the Joe Kearney Award, joining men’s track and field student-athlete Lucas Van Klaveren in 2024.

Joe Kearney Award Winners:

 

2025: Gabe Remy, Track & Field, Utah Valley; Brianna Ford, Volleyball, UT Arlington

 

2024: Lucas Van Klaveren, Track & Field, UT Arlington; Greta Karinauskaite, Track & Field, California Baptist

 

2023: Xavier Gipson, Football, Stephen F. Austin; Kristin Fifield, Softball, Grand Canyon

 

2022: Teddy Allen, Basketball, NM State; Annina Brandenburg, Track & Field, Abilene Christian

 

2021: Fardaws Aimaq, Basketball, Utah Valley; Ane Olaeta, Basketball, California Baptist

 

2020: Nick Gonzales, Baseball, NM State; Megan Hart, Volleyball, NM State

 

2019: Mark Nikolaev, Swimming and Diving, Grand Canyon; Brooke Salas, Basketball, NM State

 

2018: Jemerrio Jones, Basketball, NM State; Kelsey Horton, Softball, NM State

 

2017: Paul Hoffmeister, Soccer, Utah Valley/DeWayne Russell, Basketball, Grand Canyon; Shawnte’ Goff, Basketball, UTRGV

 

2016: Antoine Rozner, Golf, Kansas City; Gwen Murphy, Volleyball, NM State

 

2015: Michael McPherson, Track & Field, Utah Valley; Courtney Frerichs, Cross Country/Track & Field, Kansas City

 

2014: Mitchell Huxhold, Swimming and Diving, Bakersfield; Stephanie Verdoia, Soccer, Seattle U

 

2013: Kyle Barone, Basketball, Idaho; Hannah Kiser, Cross Country/Track & Field, Idaho

 

2012: Andrew Blaser, Track and Field, Idaho/Robert Turbin, Football, Utah State; Chelsea Hayes, Track & Field, Louisiana Tech

 

2011: Colin Kaepernick, Football, Nevada; Emma Friesen, Swimming and Diving, Hawai’i

 

2010: Kellen Moore, Football, Boise State; Amber Kaufman, Volleyball/Track and Field, Hawai’i

 

2009: Tom Mendonca, Baseball, Fresno State; Melanie Gloria, Tennis, Fresno State

 

2008: Steve Susdorf, Baseball, Fresno State; Emma Friesen, Diving, Hawai‘i

 

2007: Colt Brennan, Football, Hawai‘I; Kanoe Kamana’o, Volleyball, Hawai‘i

 

2006: Nick Fazekas, Basketball, Nevada; Kanoe Kamana’o, Volleyball, Hawai’i

 

2005: Gabriel Wallin, Track and Field, Boise State; Jamie Southern, Softball, Fresno State

 

2004: Kirk Snyder, Basketball, Nevada; Kim Willoughby, Volleyball, Hawai‘i

 

2003: Nick Watney, Golf, Fresno State; Kim Willoughby, Volleyball/Basketball, Hawai‘i

 

2002: David Carr, Football, Fresno State; Stacy Prammanasudh, Golf, Tulsa

 

2001: LaDainian Tomlinson, Football, TCU; Florence Ezeh, Track and Field, SMU

 

2000: Courtney Alexander, Basketball, Fresno State; Amanda Scott, Softball, Fresno State

 

1999: Andre Miller, Basketball, Utah; Martina Moravcova, Swimming and Diving, SMU

 

1998: Lars Frolander, Swimming and Diving, SMU; Amanda Scott, Softball, Fresno State

 

1997: Keith Van Horn, Basketball, Utah; Martina Moravcova, Swimming and Diving, SMU

 

1996: Keith Van Horn, Basketball, Utah; Nina Lindenberg, Softball, Fresno State

 

1995: Stoney Case, Football, New Mexico; Susanne Metz, Gymnastics, Utah

 

1994: Marshall Faulk, Football, San Diego State; Amy Van Dyken, Swimming and Diving, Colorado State

 

1993: Marshall Faulk, Football, San Diego State; Mikki Kane-Barton, Volleyball, Utah

 

1992: Carlton McDonald, Football, Air Force; Anu Kaljurand, Track and Field, Brigham Young

 

 

–WAC–

Students and families who need a little extra help before the start of the next school year are invited to the annual Community Awareness for Youth (CAFY) Back to School event. The event is Saturday, July 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at Calhoun Community College, 102 Wynn Drive, Huntsville.

The goal is to support students ages 12-18 by ensuring they are well-equipped for the 2025-2026 school year by providing free backpacks and school supplies. In addition, Refuge Church and One Generation Away will offer free drive-thru groceries to families, with one allocation per vehicle, while supplies last.

BIRMINGHAM – Texas A&M volleyball’s Logan Lednicky and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla were named to the 2025 Preseason All-SEC Team, while the Aggies were projected to finish third in the league’s annual preseason coaches’ poll announced Tuesday.
 

During the conference’s preseason voting, the Aggies were tabbed for a third-place finish with 195 points, while also receiving one first-place vote. The Maroon & White are coming off a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and their highest win total since 2019, as they concluded the 2024 campaign with a 21-8 record, 10-6 ledger in league play. The team returns 11 players from last season’s roster, while adding the No. 7 recruiting class in the nation and a dynamic outside hitter from the transfer portal.
 

A&M also garnered a pair of Preseason All-SEC Team selections, as the duo of Lednicky and Cos-Okpalla were named to the group of 15 athletes. This is Lednicky’s third-straight preseason nod, as she recorded the second-highest kills per set total (4.47) and third-highest kill total (492) in a single season in A&M history last year during her impressive junior campaign. Cos-Okpalla made it back-to-back appearances on the league’s preseason squad following her standout season, where she led the team with 161 blocks and averaged 1.46 blocks per set which ranked second and third, respectively, in the Maroon & White’s history books.
 
SEC Volleyball Coaches’ Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

Place	School	Points
1.	Kentucky (9)	218
2.	Texas (6)	216
3.	Texas A&M (1)	195
4.	Missouri	182
5.	Florida	169
6.	Tennessee	149
7.	Oklahoma	143
8.	LSU	115
9.	Georgia	98
10.	Ole Miss	97
11.	Arkansas	80
12.	Vanderbilt	77
13.	Auburn	76
14.	South Carolina	42
15.	Mississippi State	38
16.	Alabama	25

 
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Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Set to open his first season leading the University of Evansville volleyball program, head coach Zach Weinberg has announced the full 2025 season schedule.

“Our staff is really excited about the slate of matches we’ve lined up for this season. This schedule will present lots of opportunities to learn about ourselves as we head into Valley play, and with so many new faces in the program, it will be good to get everyone truly integrated,” Weinberg said. “Having Michigan State inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse, as our home opener, is a great opportunity to show a Big 10 institution the level of community and fan support we have here in Evansville and at UE. I hope we can sell out Meeks and have that be an incredible atmosphere for a huge match!”

“Renewing the home and home rivalry with USI was a non-negotiable, in my mind. The two teams always play competitive matches, and when rivalries and bragging rights are at play, stats and history get thrown out the window. Those will be competitive matches, and I’m excited to bring the city together to witness it,” Weinberg added. “Before any “official” matches get underway, we will host our Purple & Orange scrimmage in Meeks at 6PM on Friday, August 22nd. Admission will be free, and it will be the fans’ first chance to see the 2025 Aces live and in person! Aces Fans-we’d love to have you there! 2025 is going to be a great building season for us, and I can’t wait to see everyone in Meeks Family Fieldhouse this year!”

Following an exhibition match on August 23 at Lindenwood, the Purple Aces open the regular season on Friday, August 29, at the Butler Big Dawg Kickoff in Indianapolis. UE faces Butler in the opener while completing the weekend with contests against Middle Tennessee State and Purdue Fort Wayne.

In the home opener on Wednesday, September 3, Evansville welcomes Big Ten foe Michigan State. It will mark the first time a Big Ten school has played inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse since the first match at the facility on Sept. 8, 2017 when UE welcomed Indiana University.

Non-conference action continues on Sept. 4-5 when the squad travels to Atlanta for the GSU Invitational. Hosted by Georgia State, the Aces take on Florida A&M, Queens, and host GSU. Florida A&M is the reigning SWAC Champion, posting a perfect 16-0 league mark on the way to the NCAA Tournament.

UE returns to campus for a home tournament on the 12th and 13th. UAB, Western Illinois, and Morehead State comprise the event. WIU won 17 matches last season while the Eagles represented the Ohio Valley Conference in the NCAA Tournament. Non-conference action wraps up with a home-and-home versus USI. The teams meet up in Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Sept. 18 while the Aces make the trek across town two days later.

Missouri Valley Conference action opens with a home contest versus Bradley on Sept. 26. UE heads to Southern Illinois on the 27th for its first league road match. October begins with home matches versus Belmont and Indiana State on the 3rd and 4th.

Five of the next six matches take place on the road with the stretch opening on Oct. 10 with a road tilt at UNI. The Panthers were a perfect 18-0 in the Valley last season and went 23-7 overall. The weekend continues at Drake, who won 20 matches a season ago while posting a 16-2 MVC mark. The road trip continues on Oct. 14 with a contest at Indiana State.

Evansville faces UNI at home on the 18th before traveling to Belmont and Murray State on the 24th and 25. On Halloween, the Aces host UIC before squaring off against Valparaiso on November 1. Following a road swing to Illinois State and Bradley (Nov. 6-7), UE completes the regular season at home against Drake and Southern Illinois on the 14th and 15th.

The MVC Tournament runs from Nov. 19-25 and will be hosted by the higher seed.

Copyright 2025 WFIE. All rights reserved.

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