Stephen F. Austin State University—which in May announced plans to eliminate its women’s beach volleyball, golf and bowling programs—is now attempting to fend off a resulting Title IX lawsuit by arguing that its competitive cheerleading and dance teams should be counted toward its compliance with federal gender-equity laws. This comes despite the fact that neither activity is recognized by the NCAA as a championship or emerging women’s sport.

In a motion filed this week seeking to avoid a preliminary injunction against the program cuts, the Texas-based public university—represented by the state’s attorney general—argued that cheer and dance should be considered legitimate athletic opportunities, effectively equivalent to NCAA-sanctioned sports.

The Division I university is currently being sued by six former beach volleyball players and bowlers who say that their programs’ elimination violates federal law and have “exacerbated” the university’s longstanding pattern of Title IX noncompliance. Along with their civil complaint, the plaintiffs filed an emergency motion asking the court to enjoin the school from eliminating the teams until the litigation has been resolved.

SFA’s defense mirrors a failed attempt by Quinnipiac University nearly 15 years ago, when it tried to replace its women’s volleyball team with a varsity competitive cheer squad to satisfy Title IX.

In Biediger v. Quinnipiac, members of the women’s volleyball team sued after the school announced plans to eliminate its varsity sports teams for women’s volleyball, men’s golf and men’s outdoor track and field, while adding a new varsity sports team for women’s competitive cheer. Both a district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reasoned that competitive cheer does not count as a sport for purposes of Title IX, as it failed to provide sufficient athletic opportunities.

The courts pointed to several key factors in determining that Quinnipiac’s competitive cheer team didn’t satisfy Title IX requirements. They included its absence of off-campus recruiting, frequent competition against club and non-varsity teams, an open-invitational postseason format instead of a recognized championship structure, and disparities in facilities and insurance. 

As a result, Quinnipiac was ordered to keep its volleyball team intact, while its competitive cheer squad—and those at other schools—eventually evolved into the collegiate sport of acrobatics & tumbling. That sport, along with the cheer-like discipline of stunt, recently received NCAA committee recommendations for championship status by 2027.

More recently, a federal court in Kentucky rejected the University of Kentucky’s argument that its competitive cheerleading and dance teams—which, like those at SFA, operate under UK’s athletic department—should count towards Title IX. U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell noted that neither activity is NCAA-sanctioned or -recognized nor has ever been recognized for gender-equity purposes by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Ultimately, Caldwell ultimately sided with the University of Kentucky, denying the plaintiffs’ request to force the school, under Title IX, to elevate its club women’s lacrosse, field hockey or equestrian programs to varsity status. (That case, Niblock et al v. University of Kentucky et al, is currently under appeal.)

Despite these precedents, Stephen F. Austin is hoping a federal judge in Texas may view cheer and dance, specifically, and Title IX, more broadly, in a vastly different light.

“SFA’s cheer and dance teams can, and should, be counted in its participation numbers because they are 1) structured and administered consistent with other varsity sports at SFA, and 2) they prepare for and engage in competition in a manner consistent with other SFA varsity sports,” the university wrote in its court filing this week.

The motion also emphasized that SFA’s cheer and dance programs have collectively won 39 national championships—though none of them recognized by the NCAA—which represents one-third of the university’s total sports titles.

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ three-part test for Title IX compliance, which SFA acknowledges has been “universally accepted” by federal courts for decades, includes: 1) gender proportionality in athletic participation; 2) a demonstrated history of expanding programs for the underrepresented sex; and 3) evidence that the institution is effectively accommodating the interests and abilities of that group with its current sports offerings.

Attached to SFA’s motion is a 2024 analysis conducted on behalf of the university by Title IX consultant Helen Grant, whose findings appear to undercut the school’s legal position.

In her final report from January—four months before SFA announced the elimination of its three women’s teams and its men’s golf program—Grant concluded that the school was already failing to meet the first two prongs of the Title IX compliance test and expressed skepticism about the third.

“Because the female undergraduate enrollment rate is high (63%), Test 1 Substantial Proportionality compliance will be difficult with the current sport offerings,” Grant wrote.

She also noted that the university had not added a new women’s sport since launching women’s beach volleyball in 2019, and therefore was not demonstrating a “continuing practice of program expansion,” in the view of OCR. (Previously, SFA added women’s equestrian in 2005, only to eliminate it three years later.)

As for the third prong—accommodating student interest and ability—Grant cautioned that it would be “difficult to confirm” whether the university was satisfying this requirement without conducting a survey. However, she recommended delaying such a survey until after the 2025–2026 academic year, citing anticipated roster limits tied to the House v. NCAA settlement.

Nevertheless, SFA contends that the Supreme Court’s decision last summer in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo—which narrowed a four-decade precedent of deference to federal agency interpretations of regulatory law—effectively nullifies OCR’s longstanding three-part test and the requirement for “substantially proportionate” athletic opportunities.

“The Supreme Court has made clear that it is the judiciary’s role to evaluate whether SFA complies with the statute,” the university argued in its motion. “Title IX mandates equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. This Court should not utilize an agency created three-part test to determine SFA’s compliance with Title IX.”

This interpretation of Loper Bright, however, is subject to rebuttal. The decision overruled the Supreme Court’s 1984 ruling in Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which held that courts were obligated to defer to agency interpretation when a statute was ambiguous and when the accompanying agency interpretation was reasonable or permissible. This means that a statute that is clear, rather than ambiguous, is not impacted by Loper Bright. To the extent the three-part Title IX test is viewed as clearly expressed, the Supreme Court’s ruling might not help SFA.

Also, while the university claims that the supporting Title IX cases cited by the plaintiffs predate Loper Bright, it omits mention of Judge Caldwell’s decision in the Kentucky case—issued five months after the ruling.

“The school’s filing is astonishing,” said attorney Arthur Bryant, who is representing the athletes along with Colorado-based Title IX lawyer John Clune and local Texas counsel James L. Souter. “It admits the courts have ‘universally accepted’ the (OCR)’s three-part test for measuring whether women and men are being provided with equal opportunities to participate in varsity athletics and urges this court to ignore the test. It contains the report of SFA’s own Title IX expert, Helen Grant, which says it is in violation of the three-part test, and it argues that SFA’s cheer and dance teams should be counted as varsity sports when they aren’t.”

The plaintiffs are due to file their response to the court next week.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Venues and dates for the 2025-26 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championships have officially been set for the upcoming academic year and UT Arlington once again will be the host site for three different sport championships.
 
The men’s and women’s cross country championships will be hosted by the Mavericks on October 31, 2025 from the Harold Patterson Complex in Arlington. This will be the first time UTA has hosted a conference championship for cross country since 1992 when they hosted the Southland Conference Championships at Vandergriff Park.
 
For the second year in a row, the Mavs will host the women’s tennis championships as well as the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships. 
 
The women’s tennis championships will take place at the Arlington Tennis Center starting on April 17, and running through April 18.
 
From May 14-16, the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field championships will return to Maverick Stadium.
 
Below is the entire 2025-26 WAC Championships schedule with dates and host sites:
 
2025 Women’s Tennis Invitational
Oct. 16-18
St. George, Utah/Utah Tech
Trailblazer Tennis Courts
 
2025 Cross Country (M/W)
Oct. 31
Arlington/UT Arlington
Harold Patterson Complex
 
2025 Women’s Soccer

Nov. 5 & 8
Orem, Utah/Utah Valley
UCCU Stadium
Four Teams
 
2025 Men’s Soccer

Nov. 9, 12 & 15
Riverside, California/California Baptist
Lancer Soccer Field
Six Teams
 
2025 Volleyball
Nov. 20-22
Abilene/Abilene Christian
Moody Coliseum
 
2026 Indoor Track & Field (M/W)
Feb. 27-28
Spokane, Washington/WAC
The Podium
 
2026 Basketball (M/W)
March 11-14
Las Vegas, Nevada/WAC
Orleans Arena
 
2026 Women’s Tennis
April 17-18
Arlington/UT Arlington
Arlington Tennis Center
Four Teams
 
2026 Women’s Golf
April 20-22
McKinney/WAC
The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch
 
2026 Men’s Golf
April 27-29
McKinney/WAC
The Clubs of Stonebridge Ranch
 
2026 University Credit Union Softball
May 6-9
Stephenville/Tarleton State
Tarleton Softball Complex
Six Teams
 
2026 Outdoor Track & Field (M/W)
May 14-16
Arlington/UT Arlington
Maverick Stadium
 
2026 University Credit Union Baseball
May 19-23
Mesa, Arizona/WAC
Hohokam Stadium
Six Teams
 

— #BuckEm —

 
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Recently, Zion Chapel High School announced the hiring of alumnus Faith (Dewberry) Bates as the school’s new head volleyball coach. 

Bates played volleyball and softball and went on to graduate from Troy University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training. During her time at Troy, Bates interned as an athletic trainer with Troy’s football, volleyball, soccer and basketball programs. 

“I went to Troy to be an athletic trainer and I’ve been around athletics since high school,” Bates said. “It’s just one of those things almost like a ministry, being around sports and seeing the coaching side of things made me want to pursue (coaching). Ethan Deal mentioned my name (to the principal) and they contacted me and it all sort of laid out in a way where it just felt right for me to come back to Zion Chapel.” 

Over the last several years, Zion Chapel has had a number of volleyball coaches and Bates said she wants to bring some consistency to the position. 

“I would love for these girls to just have some stability,” she said. “The last few years it’s been sort of a revolving door (of coaches) and I feel like they know I’m coming in with high expectations. The talent is there, I think the girls have more talent at Zion Chapel than they’ve had in a long time across all athletics right now.”

Bates is trying to develop a cohesive team as she takes over the program.

“My goal is to get them to play as a team and play to the ability they have,” she continued. “I want them to have the confidence and trust in themselves that they can be a winning team and play up to their highest potential.”

Bates said the Lady Rebels got a taste of their potential at a recent team camp.

“As soon as I started, the next week we started workouts and started practicing in July,” said Bates. “It’s been going really well. We went to a team camp at the beginning of July in Enterprise at Deep South Volleyball. It was really our first chance to play together and I think the girls surprised themselves.

“With the little practice we had had, they picked things up so quickly. It was a good place to see the potential they have and what we can be with some more tweaking.”

“After multiple conversations with my family, friends and director of athletics Jeramiah Dickey, I have decided to step away from my coaching role at Boise State to focus on my family,” Voigt said. “I’ve been blessed to work with the best student-athletes, coaches and staff members during my time with this program and am so grateful for all the relationships that I’ve developed here. I am extremely proud of all that we accomplished as a program in my time here and am looking forward to seeing what’s next for this program as its number one fan.”

The winningest coach in program history, Voigt has amassed a 119-63 career coaching record since taking over the program prior to the 2019 season, and guided the squad through conference play after joining the SLC before the 2023 year.

After finishing as a runner-up in the first two years as members of the Southland Conference, the reigning SLC Coach of the Year led the Broncos to their first regular season and conference tournament championship this past season. The tournament title earned the Broncos an automatic spot to the 16-team NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship for the first time in program history.

Under her leadership, she has built the program to become one of the perennial powers in the West, having won 20+ games over the past four seasons. Boise State has recorded a 26-7 season record against conference foes under her tenure, including a 12-1 mark this past season. She has also maintained a dominance on the Broncos’ home sand, leading the squad to an 20-dual winning streak dating back to the 2021 season.

“Allison is a tremendous human, and we’re grateful for her leadership for the last seven years with our beach volleyball program and 10 years total at Boise State,” said Jeramiah Dickey, Boise State Director of Athletics. “When she let me know of her decision to step down, the conversation was incredibly emotional. It shows how much she cares about being a Bronco, and what this program means to her. But it also shows how much she loves being a mom to Hallie and Tobin and a wife to Brandon. I’m proud of her choosing what’s best for them, and know she is going to continue to be an elite mother. She was a Bar Raiser for us, setting up our program for future competitive excellence as highlighted by this past year’s trip to the NCAA Tournament and conference title.”

Since joining the SLC prior to the 2023 season, Voigt has coached 12 all-conference pairs, including nine first-team duos – the most in the conference in that time frame. Voigt helped Boise State become the first team in conference history to have its entire starting lineup earn all-conference recognition following the 2024 season. In three years of SLC play, Bronco duos have taken home SLC Pair of the Week honors 10 times. Additionally, Boise State has claimed back-to-back Newcomer of the Year honors, and claimed the league’s top pair in 2024.

Though success has been a staple of Voigt’s leadership, she is also well-known for her dedication to developing student-athletes off the sand as well. The Broncos’ have had back-to-back SLC Student-Athletes of the Year, and have earned the AVCA Team Academic award in every season she has been a head coach. She also helped one of her student-athletes, Makayla Dimond, become the first Boise State student-athlete to pursue a nursing degree while concurrently participating in a sport.

“I’m a full believer that collegiate athletics shouldn’t take people away from their passion or what they want to do career-wise,” Voigt said. “Yes, I’m a coach, and believe me I want to win as much as possible. But I also see this role as a mentor, someone that can make an impact on a young woman’s life. That’s really important to me.”

Voigt came to the Treasure Valley in 2016 to serve as an assistant coach on Boise State’s indoor team, before assuming the head coaching role of the Boise State beach team in 2019.

Voigt graduated in 2012 from New Mexico, where she was a decorated player on the Lobos’ indoor volleyball team. As a collegiate athlete, she earned a number of accolades during her junior and senior seasons including: AVCA All-America Honorable-Mention and first-team AVCA All-West Region honors, both in 2011; as well as being a two-time All-MW honoree in 2010 and 2011 as the MW Libero of the Year; and served as a team captain her senior year. The native of Camas, Wash., also excelled in the classroom where she was a four-time Academic All-MW award recipient.

To this day, Voigt still holds New Mexico’s career dig record (1,630), single-season dig record with 561 (in 2011), and single-game dig record (36, twice).

 

“We brought her up on varsity with that success and she even started several games when our starting center, Alexis Price was injured,” added Harris. “Amanda played an important complimentary role on that team in her sophomore year.”

With that important role on the 2022-’23 varsity team she earned the Rookie of the Year Award.

Velazquez became a full-time starter on varsity in her junior year on a senior heavy team.

She averaged 6.4 points per game along with 7.9 rebounds per game, 2.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Highlighting her year, she had a game with 14 points and 20 rebounds against Villa Park.

After that season, she was chosen as Varsity Most Improved Player and was also chosen as All-Tournament in the Downey Classic.

“Throughout the season Amanda showed great leadership on our team,” Harris added. “She worked hard, communicated with teammates, cheered them on, and really showed the younger girls what it means to be a Viking.”

Amanda averaged a double-double that season with 10.3 points and 11.3 rebounds.

Highlighting her season, Velazquez scored 16 points and 20 rebounds in a win over Vista Murrieta in the Sunny Hills Tournament and another double-double (14 pts., 20 RB) in a must-win Gateway League game in double overtime over Gahr. It was a game the Vikings needed to win to make the CIF playoffs.

In the playoffs, Velazquez continued her hot hand with another double-double (17-17) in a 55-47 3AA first round win over Arcadia and the team continued its run to the quarterfinals.

With her senior year completed, Velazquez racked up the awards which included, Downey Athlete of the Week, varsity Most Inspirational, MVP and Gateway All-League First Team selection.

Also in her senior year, a new sport was born – Flag Football – and she became an integral part of the defense for coach Chuck Lozano.

“Amanda was an amazing player for us,” Lozano said. “She was the anchor on our defense and demonstrated excellent leadership skills.”

She led the team with seven interceptions and even played some time at the quarterback position, throwing for 164 yards (12 for 20) and four TDs. For her efforts she was chosen as the team defensive MVP and was 2nd team in the Gateway League. The team finished 17-8 overall and was second to Warren with a 7-1 record in league.

“Honestly, I kind of walked into it not really knowing what we were getting into,” she said. “It was a new sport and everyone was excited and as soon as I started summer camp, I realized these coaches knew what they were doing and we kind of had a bond already. It was a cool experience and such a good feeling, and it was exciting.

“Every time we stepped on the field we meant business. We didn’t care that it was our first year and other schools already had experience with the sport. We played with heart and grit, and I loved every part of that season.”

Amanda tried a third sport in her junior year, joining the track and field team participating in the high jump.

What they said:

Chuck Lozano, Downey Flag Football coach: “Amanda had a competitive spirit at all times that fueled our team on game day. She started the season slow but the day she stepped on the field, she became our leader on defense. Amanda was extremely talented and a great player, but an even better person.”

Nate Harris, Downey Basketball coach: “Amanda kept working and in her senior year she was the only returning varsity player on a very young and inexperienced team,” Harris said. “She did an amazing job leading our team to the quarterfinals of CIF.”

Tyler Harris

Harris, who has been playing basketball and volleyball in the Downey gymnasium since he was a young child, culminated that long journey with the prestigious award.

“Winning Athlete of the Year is very well deserved,” said second-year Downey Boys Basketball coach Tyler Ellis. “It is a reflection of the countless hours and dedication that Tyler has put in over his four-year career at Downey, in both basketball and volleyball.

“Tyler has joined some elite company of basketball players here at Downey, with all his accomplishments, and it is very well deserved.

Harris became the second member of the Harris family to be named Athlete of the Year, as his sister Hailey received the honor in 2021, following a successful career at Downey playing softball, basketball and volleyball.

A huge accomplishment by the 6-ft. 5-in. senior wing was joining the 1,000-point club at the school this past season. He scored 489 points in his junior year and 596 this year for a total of 1,089 points. He also grabbed over 500 rebounds in his three years on varsity. (Point totals and rebounds were not available for his sophomore season).

“It (the award) was actually a surreal feeling,” Harris said. “It caught me by surprise there was so many great people that could have been selected. It was definitely crazy, especially my sister (Hailey) also won Athlete of the Year, so the fact that I could win it as well was kind of a family thing.

“Not many parents can say that and with all the great Downey athletes before me, I felt completely honored and extremely thankful. It was a time of my life that I will never forget here at Downey.

“Getting into the 1,000-point club was really crazy because it doesn’t happen often. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity that I could even make it to that point.”

Asked how he felt about winning, he added, “I definitely had some pressure (from sister Hailey winning the award) to get to that standard, but I wanted to make my own legacy at Downey. She had her turn but now it’s mine.”

He also played volleyball and was on the varsity his junior and senior seasons playing under Downey Boys Volleyball coach Matt Lostetter.

“Playing two sports at Downey was challenging at times because of all the early mornings and late nights,” Harris said. “But I knew it was building good habits for me and my future. It was an experience like no other and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Lostetter said of Harris receiving the award: “I think (the award) is well deserved,” Lostetter said. “He’s been a Downey athlete for four years. It’s probably been longer than four years. I’ve seen him in and out of the gym since he was a kid. He’s been playing volleyball and basketball forever.

“Every time he would transition from basketball to volleyball, he always came at it with such a passion. His last two years (junior and senior years) he said ‘what I can I do more to prepare me more for basketball and indoor volleyball’, so he jumped on the sand (Beach Volleyball) with us. He would go from the sand, straight to the court for basketball and right back to indoor volleyball. He’s constantly hungry and to improve himself to be competitive.”