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Week 6 Fantasy Baseball Waiver

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Week 6 Fantasy Baseball Waiver

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You know those safe closers you drafted? The ones you paid a premium for because you wouldn’t have to worry about them this season while everyone else had a knock-down, drag-out fight for the dregs of the RP position on waivers every week? Yeah, that plan might’ve gotten flipped on its head over the past  week.

That’s an exaggeration, of course. Josh Hader has been fine, if you have him, and Mason Miller remains a dominant force; Ryan Helsley’s job is safe, and Raisel Iglesias just keeps on trucking. But a bunch of the high-end options look pretty scary these days.

Like Devin Williams and Emmanuel Clase, who were both shifted out of the closer’s role at least temporarily this weekend as they try to find the answer to some early-season struggles. In both instances, the Yankees and Guardians managers were clear to say their demotions were likely to be temporary, but if you invested an early pick into either, losing them as a saves source for even a week could be tough to overcome, especially since your only recourse is to stash them away on your bench – I shouldn’t have to say this, but no, you are definitely not dropping Emmanuel Clase or Devin Williams.

But you probably should be trying to add Cade Smith and Luke Weaver to replace them this week. Both are elite relievers in their own right, and both would probably be top-10 options for Fantasy if they were the closer the rest of the way for their respective teams. And, while we expect these to be short-term changes, there’s at least a chance both stick in the role and become huge contributors for Fantasy the rest of the way, either because they make themselves irreplaceable or the guy they are replacing just never gets right. At the very least, both Weaver and Smith look like must-start relievers for the next week, and possibly longer.

We’ve also got Edwin Diaz dealing with a hip injury, though the concern over that is minimal enough that he did pitch Saturday. However, he did skip a save situation Sunday, with Ryne Stanek blowing the game for the Mets, so that could be an issue that lingers and makes Diaz a risky start this week.

Things are worse for Ryan Walker, who might just be in a time share now – he worked the ninth inning in a tied game Saturday but continued to look vulnerable, giving up a couple of hits before getting out of the inning and ending up with a win. Sunday, it was Camilo Doval‘s turn to work the ninth in a tie game and get the win. They remain tied for the team lead with five saves, and while Walker hasn’t totally lost the job, it also isn’t totally his either. I wouldn’t be looking to drop Walker, but I do think Doval is someone you want to be adding in most Roto leagues. 

And Ryan Pressly and Trevor Megill are both on notice, too. Both are dealing with knee issues, though Pressly’s is a bigger concern right now – he’s been throwing off to the side, but he hasn’t pitched in a game since last week. Porter Hodge could continue to see some save chances as long as Pressly is out, while Megill blew a save Saturday with a walk-off homer, and has at least a couple of viable options behind him if he continues to struggle – Abner Uribe would probably be next in line, though recently promoted rookie Craig Yoho has some interesting skills that could make him worth a look in deeper leagues, too.

And then there are a couple of bullpen situations that might have already flipped. For the Tigers, Will Vest has the last three saves ahead of Tommy Kahnle, who looked like he was running away with the job early on. That’s ambiguous enough that I wouldn’t be surprised to see it flip back to Kahnle, but Vest seems to be at the top of the hierarchy for now. And in Pittsburgh, David Bednar might have already gotten his closer job back, as he worked the ninth for the save Friday, while Dennis Santana shifted down to the eighth-inning role. I always assumed the Pirates wanted to get Bednar back into that role, and they really didn’t take long to do it.

If you’re looking for relievers to add this weekend, I would probably rank them in this priority: 

  1. David Bednar, Pirates
  2. Cade Smith, Guardians
  3. Luke Weaver, Yankees
  4. Camilo Doval, Giants
  5. Will Vest, Tigers
  6. Porter Hodge, Cubs
  7. Abner Uribe, Brewers

But there are plenty of options, both in the short- and long-term to consider, and that could allow you to be strategic. If you need saves right now, Smith and Weaver could be high priorities, because we know they’re good and seemingly have a short-term limit on how long they’ll have the job; if you are in a more speculative position, Uribe or Hodge might not give you a ton of saves right now, but both could end up with real long-term value if some stuff breaks their way.

Here’s who else we’re looking to add on waivers ahead of Week 5: 

Week 5 Waiver Targets

Catchers

Agustin Ramirez, C, Marlins (48%) – It’s hard for a player’s first five games to go any better than Ramirez’s have. After homering in his first trip to the plate Sunday, he is 8 for his first 15 at-bats with two homers, four doubles, a steal, and just one strikeout. Ramirez played his way into the top-50 prospect discussion by hitting 25 homers and stealing 22 bases last season in the minors, and he’s going to be a stalwart of the Marlins lineup basically everyday if he keeps this up. He’s better in Roto than points, but at this point, Ramirez needs to be rostered in all leagues with this hot start. 

Deep-league target: Edgar Quero, White Sox (16%) – Quero is kind of getting lost in the shuffle behind Ramirez, but he wasn’t viewed as a significantly worse prospect than Ramirez coming into the season – FanGraphs had him as the No. 59 player on their big board coming into the season, while Ramirez was 40th – and he’s more than held his own in his first taste of the majors. Quero is hitting .345/.472/.414 in his first11 games, with a couple of appearances already at DH, a sign the White Sox want to keep him in the lineup. His skillset isn’t quite as Fantasy-friendly as Ramirez’s, but with how bad catcher remains outside of a handful of options, any young guy with upside should be rostered in two-catcher leagues. And Quero will cost a lot less than Ramirez!

First Base

Pavin Smith, Diamondbacks (53%) – The Diamondbacks seem perfectly content to use Smith as a pure platoon bat, but you have to wonder if he might be able to change their perspective if he keeps crushing everything. He took a huge step forward last season, putting up a .395 expected wOBA to go along with his .377 actual mark, and now he’s improved on both in the early going. Sure, that’s inflated by the lack of exposure to tough left-handed pitchers, which also limits his appeal in points leagues especially. But with the way he’s hitting – in that lineup, no less – Smith is useful in any format, especially if the upcoming schedule is fairly righty-heavy. 

Deep-league target: Spencer Horwitz, Pirates (10%) – Horwitz began his rehab assignment Sunday as he continues to work his way back from wrist surgery prior to the season. He’ll likely stay on that rehab assignment for at least another week, but he’s obviously getting close, and should be a big part of the Pirates lineup when healthy. I’m not sure Horwitz can really hit lefties, but he showed a good approach at the plate last season and could be a useful option in deeper leagues when healthy.

Second base

Jorge Polanco, Mariners (56%) – Maybe it takes a year to get used to playing in Seattle? Or maybe, you know, playing major-league baseball when you aren’t healthy is really hard. Polanco played through a variety of lower-body injuries last season and was clearly never right, as evidenced by his career-worst quality of contact metrics and strikeout rate. He’s turned both around so far this season, sporting a 12.9% strikeout rate and .489 expected wOBA on contact, both of which would be the best marks of his career. I don’t expect he’ll keep all of that up, but it’s worth remembering that Polanco had pretty consistently been an above-average bat before last season, and he might just be back to being one.

Deep-league target: Jeff McNeil, Mets (21%) – McNeil’s big second half in 2024 might have just been a fluke, but the reason I was interested in him coming into the season is because it was accompanied by an increase in bat speed – in the first half, his average swing speed was 68.3 mph, but that jumped uip to 69.8 mph after the break. It’s only been two games, but he has a hit in both and his swing speed is up yet again. The sample size is too small to draw any conclusions from, but it’s what we wanted to see from a guy who might still have something left in the tank.

Third base

Noelvi Marte, Reds (55%) – I’m pretty skeptical about Marte’s recent hot streak, but I’m also trying to be as open-minded as I can be, given his prospect pedigree. He is 14 for 30 with three homers, 14 RBI, and three steals over the past seven games, with a totally manageable 15.6% strikeout rate in that stretch. The underlying plate discipline metrics still aren’t great, but he is chasing out of the strike zone less often while swinging at more pitches in the strike zone than last season, which is what you want to see. Let’s see if it’s real. 

Deep-league target: Eric Wagaman, Marlins (15%) – There’s very little in Wagaman’s history to suggest he’s likely to be a good major-league hitter. Wagaman has just a .726 OPS in his minor-league career, and while he has better numbers in the high minors, he also has been very old for the level at basically every step. But sure, maybe he’s a late-bloomer – I don’t exactly buy that, but he’s been impressive enough in the early going that I’ll remain open-minded as long as he remains cheap to acquire. Wagaman’s .319 xBA and .568 xSLG suggest he hasn’t exactly been lucky to hit .256/.307/.439 so far, so there could be some room to grow here.

Shortstop

Josh H. Smith, Rangers (51%) – I don’t really think there’s much to be excited about with Smith, but that’s kind of the problem at shortstop – there just isn’t much to be excited about with anyone who is relatively widely available. Smith has an everyday job with Corey Seager on the IL and should put up useful production – a batting average in the .260 range, a decent number of runs, and hopefully a few steals and a few homers. Again, it’s not exciting, but as a fill-in, he can be fine. 

Deep-league targets: Kyle Farmer, Rockies (5%) – Farmer is even less exciting, but he does at least get to call Coors Field home for half his games. Yeah, the deep-league options at SS are rough.

Outfield

Austin Hays, Reds (62%) – Hays’ roster rate has continued to climb, but it still isn’t high enough, given how absolutely scorching hot he’s been since debuting in mid-April. He is now up to five homers in his first 12 games, while hitting .388/.444/.755 with a manageable 22% strikeout rate. Hays struggled last season while dealing with inconsistent playing time and then an infection, but he had been a solidly above average hitter for three straight years before that and now is in arguably the best hitting park in baseball. I think he might just be a must-start outfielder moving forward. 

Jordan Beck, Rockies (28%) – I try to be fairly open-minded with players on the Rockies, just because of how much Coors Field inflates offensive production. Beck has put up pretty decent minor-league numbers over the years, but hasn’t managed to make it work at the MLB level until basically this week, when he returned from Triple-A with five homers in a three-game span. He’ll probably keep striking out too often to take full advantage of the opportunity to be a full-time player in Coors Field, but after this kind of outburst, we’ll give him another look. 

Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays (22%) – At this point in his career, I think we know who Varsho is: A decent power/speed threat who you’re hoping won’t kill you with his batting average. You need to decide for yourself whether you can handle what will likely be an average in the .210-.225 range, but if you can, a pro-rated pace of 20 or so homers and 15 steals can certainly be helpful. 

Jesus Sanchez Marlins (15%) – Sanchez hasn’t done much since coming off the IL, but there’s still an opportunity for him to be pretty useful for Fantasy. There’s a ceiling here because he likely won’t start against many lefties, but that should help keep his average in the manageable range, and he did have 18 homers and 16 steals last season. In a daily lineups league especially, Sanchez can be a solid starter. 

Andy Pages, Dodgers (13%) – Pages is starting to turn things around. He opened the season with 11 straight games without a homer, but he’s hitting .341 since, with his fifth homer in his past 13 games coming Sunday. Pages flashed some upside last season after getting the call, and he’s tapping into some lately. Even batting in the bottom-third of that Dodgers lineup isn’t a bad place to be if Pages keeps hitting like this. 

Starting pitcher

Reese Olson, Tigers (78%) – When Olson locks in, it’s really easy to see how useful he can be for Fantasy. It comes down to getting into position to deploy his two excellent secondaries, while limiting the damage done against his fastballs along the way. He’s changed his approach this season to prioritize his sinker over his four-seamer, and while that sinker isn’t a great pitch – .422 xwOBA this season – the damage it gives up tends to be on the ground, which limits the downside. And when he gets to two-strike counts consistently, his changeup and slider give him a legit put-away pitch for hitters of both handedness, as we saw in his seven-strikeout effort against the Padres this week. Let’s see if he can keep rolling. 

Colin Rea, Cubs (65%) – I generally don’t like to do the, “Well, I don’t think this pitcher is actually good, but he is getting good results right now so you might as well play the hot hand” thing. Sometimes, it works, but sometimes you leave that guy in your lineup too long and end up with six earned runs and 12 baserunners in five innings from Mitchell Parker, like we got this weekend. So I’m hesitant to recommend Rea here. But he does have a pretty favorable upcoming schedule, with starts against the Pirates, Giants, Marlins, and White Sox scheduled over the next four, so if you want a steamer, he at least has an opportunity to be useful. 

Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers (28%) – And now we’re at the “I’d rather stash for upside than use a mediocre pitcher in my lineup” portion of the show. Gonsolin is working his way back from Tommy John surgery as well as a spring back injury, and it looks like his debut is imminent – it was likely to come some time this week, but with Tyler Glasnow leaving Sunday’s start with shoulder discomfort, Gonsolin has a clear path back to the rotation. He has been sitting in the same velocity range as he was during his very good 2022 season on his rehab assignment, and could be very useful for Fantasy if he pitches at that level again. 

Ryan Weathers, Marlins (24%) – Well, here’s some good news: Weathers’ velocity was right where we wanted it to be in his rehab debut Sunday at Single-A. Coming back from a flexor strain, Weathers hit 99.1 mph and struck out six in three innings on just 35 pitches in his first start of the season. That’s a higher max velocity than he’s ever had in the majors, and was what we saw that made him such a popular breakout pick this spring. It might also, of course, be what led to the injury in the first place, sure, but here’s the thing: You don’t have to invest a draft pick in him now to find out if the velocity bump can sustain and take him to another level. Add Weathers now before there’s more competition for him as his return from the IL nears. 

Eury Perez, Marlins (41%) – Speaking of getting ahead of the rush, Perez is probably still at least another month away from returning to the majors himself. He started a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning of work, his first appearance in a game since having Tommy John surgery last April. He averaged 97.2 mph with his four-seamer and worked his entire arsenal in over 19 pitches. He’ll probably take the full month to rehab, and might just get optioned back to the minors afterwards to keep working his way back. But the good news is, Perez is healthy, and he looked like himself, more or less, in his first game back. And he still has “best pitcher in baseball” upside when healthy. 

Lucas Giolito, Red Sox (36%) – I’m pretty skeptical about Giolito making much of an impact here – he really hasn’t been Fantasy relevant since 2021 at this point. But I’m open to the possibility and want to see how his first start off the IL goes this week. I wouldn’t start him for it, but I don’t mind adding him ahead of time just in case there’s something still here. 

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Kelly Sheffield discusses NCAA volleyball transfer portal window

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December 9, 2025

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Dec. 8, 2025, 9:43 p.m. CT



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Setter Avery Scoggins announces intent transfer Arizona volleyball

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December 9, 2025

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The risk of trying to develop a team from within is already coming to fruition for Arizona volleyball head coach Rita Stubbs. Starting setter Avery Scoggins announced her intent to transfer mere hours after Arizona’s season ended in the second round of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Unconfirmed rumors of other players being shopped around by third parties are also swirling.

Scoggins was the AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year last season despite not getting the nod as Big 12 Freshman of the Year. She was All-Big 12 Second Team this season and led the conference in assists during league play.

Scoggins was an AVCA Second Team All-American coming out of high school after leading her high school to a state title. She joined a highly-touted Arizona class that included AVCA First Team All-American Carlie Cisneros and AVCA All-American honorable mention Brenna Ginder.

That group, along with fellow sophomore middle blocker Adrianna Bridges, was the core of an Arizona team that got back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and won a tournament game for the first time since 2016. They were set to be the core of a team that tries to take the next step forward next season. Now, part of that class of juniors-to-be is leaving.

Arizona will have to get a setter from the transfer portal. The Wildcats did not sign a setter in the 2026 class. It consists of a middle blocker, a pin, and a libero. With former setter Ana Heath graduating, the only setter still on next year’s roster is Chloe Giehtbrock. She came to the position late in her development, sat out a year of high school play after transferring, and played just a few points this year after planning to red shirt. Even if Giehtbrock is ready to set on a daily basis, having just one setter on the roster is not sustainable.

Fortunately for Stubbs, the portal is already full of high-level setters from Power 4 teams. There are also some quality setters from mid-major programs who are on the move. Setters are far from in short supply this year.

The question for Arizona is how attractive it will be to a high-level player. Volleyball is not a part of revenue sharing at Arizona. The school does not even fund all 18 scholarships allowed by the NCAA under the House settlement. Although Arizona Athletics incorrectly claimed last month in response to an open records request that revealing how many scholarships it offers after House is a violation of FERPA, it is known that the program has 14.75 scholarships. It is also not a violation of FERPA to reveal that information; the law is meant to protect the individual records of students not aggregate data about money spent, budgeted, or approved at a public institution. NAU responded to a similar request for the number of scholarships it approves in less than 24 hours with a full breakdown by all sports.

On a positive note, one player who is headed to Arizona for 2026 just received more honors. Libero Gigi Whann was named the District 15A MVP for her district in Texas. Another recruit, 2027 OH Asia Udo-Ema, just finished third with her club team at the SCVA 18s.



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Michigan Parent Files Title IX Complaint Over Transgender Volleyball Player

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December 9, 2025

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A Michigan parent filed a Title IX complaint with the Department of Education over the presence of a trans-identifying biological male player on the Ann Arbor Skyline girls’ volleyball team. OutKick obtained a copy of the official complaint, filed with the Department of Education on Dec. 5, 2025. 

Sean Lechner, whose daughter competed on the Monroe High School volleyball team, said his daughter was forced to compete against, and change in the same locker room, as the biological male. 

“Ann Arbor Skyline played Monroe High School and won. Both schools failed to ensure fair competition, provide a safe environment and equal opportunity to participate in sex-separated athletic programs,” the complaint letter alleges. 

“My daughter was forced to share a locker room, where females undressed, with the male athlete. The presence of a male in the girls’ locker room was not disclosed prior to the match, constituting a violation of privacy and bodily integrity protections under Title IX,” the complaint continues.  

During a press conference held in Monroe on Monday, Lechner’s daughter Briley spoke about the incident. 

“We found out… weeks after that there was [a] male in the same locker room as us as we were changing and also playing against us. It caught everyone off guard… because nobody would have expected that,” Lechner said. “As I was looking at this person, admiring how amazing they were, admiring how high they could jump, I was kinda getting down on myself [wondering] why I’m not capable of that.” 

Controversy Around Ann Arbor Skyline High School 

As OutKick previously reported exclusively, the Skyline girls volleyball team had a trans-identifying biological male (who OutKick is not naming because the person is believed to be a minor) in its starting lineup. The team reached the Michigan Division 1 state quarterfinals before losing to Byron Center, but the athlete earned First Team All-Conference honors.

The status of transgender athletes in Michigan is in legislative limbo. Although the Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives has passed two bills to prohibit transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports, the Democrat-controlled state Senate has said it won’t even consider a ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

Side-by-side of U.S. Department of Education logo and a stock photo of girls playing volleyball.

A Michigan parent filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education over a trans-identifying biological male on the Ann Arbor Skyline’s girls’ volleyball team.

(Getty Images)

While Michigan does not explicitly ban transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that effectively does. As a public high school, Skyline could be subjected to a loss of federal funding if found to be in violation of that executive order.

Several schools, districts and athletic associations across the country are currently under investigation by the Department of Education for Title IX violations related to transgender athletes, but none are in the state of Michigan.

Lechner wants that to change, which is why he filed his complaint. 

Allegations of Athletic Director Hiding Information 

Lechner accused the Monroe athletic director, Chet Hesson, of lying about his awareness of a transgender player on Skyline’s team prior to Monroe’s match against them. 

“Hesson claimed in writing that he did not have prior knowledge of the athlete’s sex or gender identity. This was false, as confirmed by a staff member of the athletic community at Monroe High who came forward and provided information to Tom Heck, President of the Monroe Public School Board, in a statement that Chet knew the day before the match,” the complaint continues. 

OutKick reached out to Hesson after the Sept. 9 match to ask if Skyline made him aware that the school rostered a trans-identifying biological male. 

“Prior to the match on Tuesday, I was informed that a news outlet may attend the match, as a courtesy from the visiting team in case media presence might cause a distraction. I did not receive any disclosure from the visiting team about the gender identity of any individual athlete or athletes,” Hesson wrote in an email to OutKick on September 15. 

OutKick followed up with Hesson, asking if he pressed the Skyline AD further after being told national media might be in attendance for a regular season girls’ high school volleyball match. 

“I did speak with the AD, she shared that there was a news outlet that was concerned about trans-athletes in sport,” Hesson said in an email on Sept. 16. 

Side-by-side of a Skyline High School decal and a mural inside the school that says, "Safe Space" and is adorned with both the rainbow "pride" flag and the "transgender pride" flag.

A Michigan parent filed a Title IX complaint after Skyline fielded a trans-identified athlete; the complaint alleges privacy and fairness violations and questions MHSAA compliance.

(OutKick)

Lechner claims that Hesson knew that Skyline had a trans-identifying player and chose not to share the information with Monroe’s players or parents. 

“By withholding this information, Hesson denied female athletes the opportunity to make informed decisions about their participation and privacy, violating Title IX’s protection against sex-based discrimination,” the complaint said. 

The Michigan Department of Education told OutKick that it “received the complaint and is reviewing it.” 

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), Ann Arbor Public Schools and Monroe Public Schools did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

However, OutKick obtained an internal email sent to staff by Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Shaw. In the email, Shaw said the district received a Title IX complaint Dec. 5 and has hired a third party to investigate, instructing staff not to comment until the review is complete.

What’s Next? 

As for Lechner’s ultimate goal in filing the complaint, he asked that the school district: 

  1. Ban biological males from competing in female sports.
  2. Ban biological males from entering female locker rooms during athletic competitions.
  3. Conduct a full investigation into actions and communications of Ann Arbor Public Schools/Skyline High and Monroe Public Schools/Monroe High School/athletic director Chet Hesson, including potential Title IX violations.
  4. Review compliance with MHSAA rules regarding participation of transgender athletes.
  5. Establish and enforce clear protocols for:Locker room access and privacyParental notification for all matchesCompetitive safety when playing against male athletesTransparent communication between athletic administrators, coaching staff, and parents
  6. Locker room access and privacy
  7. Parental notification for all matches
  8. Competitive safety when playing against male athletes
  9. Transparent communication between athletic administrators, coaching staff, and parents
  10. Provide a written report detailing findings, Title IX implications, and corrective measures

“Parents must have confidence that school administrators prioritize the safety, privacy, equitable treatment, and fairness of female athletes. The events of September 9th and October 25th, combined with the publicly reported impact of the Skyline male athlete, demonstrate administrative failures at both Skyline High and Monroe High that violate Title IX and MHSAA regulations and require immediate action,” the letter concludes. 

Lechner, other parents and young girls are asking for the bare minimum: follow Title IX and keep girls’ sports safe and fair. If even that is too much, we have lost the plot as a society.

Note: This story has been updated with additional information since original publication. 





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Michigan schools face Title IX complaint over transgender volleyball player

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A Monroe family, joined by several Michigan lawmakers, on Monday announced the filing of a Title IX complaint against Monroe Public Schools, Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Michigan High School Athletic Association, challenging a decision to allow a transgender athlete to play on Ann Arbor Skyline’s girls volleyball team and share locker room facilities during a match in the 2025 season.

The complaint, submitted by Sean Lechner alleges “serious administrative failures” by both districts and Monroe athletic director Chet Hesson, including ignoring safety protocols, withholding information, and disregarding student privacy, competitive fairness, MHSAA rules and federal Title IX requirements.

“This is purely about accountability, fairness and justice,” Sean Lechner said. “This is about privacy, safety and dignity of any and all female athletes. Schools do not have the right to hide the biological sex of a male student at the expense of any female student or athlete.”

State representatives James DeSana (R-Carleton), William Bruck (R-Erie Township), Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile Township), Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) and State Senator Joe Bellino, and Laura Perry, who is running for the Michigan House of Representatives, joined the complaint to discuss the filing and concerns raised.

The complaint has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Education, the MHSAA and Monroe Public Schools.

Sean Lechner, whose daughter, Briley, plays on the Monroe team, claims parents were not informed and that privacy and safety protocols were ignored. He said the complaint is also centered around arguments of unfair competition advantages and the violation of female athletes’ privacy.

“I’m speaking out today not just for my daughter, but for every family that was betrayed when the adults responsible failed to do their job,” Sean Lechner said. “This burden must not fall on the shoulders of teenage girls. It is now the responsibility of parents, school officials and lawmakers to step up.”

The complaint also alleges that Skyline allowed the athlete to compete without submitting the required waiver to the MHSAA for a trans female (male to female) to compete, raising concerns about Title IX compliance.

However, the MHSAA and AAPS have stated they do not provide confidential details about students, including eligibility status.

“Title IX was established to separate athletics by biological sex to ensure equal opportunity, competitive fairness and safety of female athletes,” Perry said during the press conference. “…One waiver in Michigan, one displaced female athlete on a varsity roster or starting lineup, one player of the match taken by a biological male, and one team advancing to the Elite Eight in the MHSAA tournament because of a male is one too many.”

Andrew Cluley, AAPS director of communications, said the district does not comment on ongoing litigation.

In a statement regarding the filing, Monroe administration said it has hired a third party to conduct a Title IX investigation to ensure transparency.

“The District has requested a third party to complete the Title IX investigation and provide a recommended determination,” the statement said. “The district has chosen to use a third party so that the investigation can be completed in a manner that allows for complete transparency from beginning to end. Monroe Public Schools has no further comment while the third party is conducting the investigation.”

Skyline and Monroe competed on Sept. 9, where Skyline won the match. The complaint alleges that the two teams shared a locker room at Monroe for the match, but parents were not informed of a transgender athlete on Skyline’s team until afterwards.

The two teams also competed in a match during a conference meet on Oct. 25 but did not share a locker room.

“This was definitely very devastating for all of us girls,” Briley Lechner said during the press conference. “This person did disguise themselves to look like a female, so when we found out weeks after that there was another male in the same locker room as us, as we are changing and also playing against us, it caught everyone off guard and it was very changing because nobody would have expected that that would have been the last thought.

“Because as I was looking at this person, admiring how amazing they were, admiring how high they could jump, I was kind of getting down to myself, like, I wonder why I’m not capable of that. So, it’s definitely very like changing to see that.”

Skyline’s team went onto win a Division 1 regional title and advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2021.

Ahead of the quarterfinal match against Byron Center last month, 14 lawmakers signed a letter asking the MHSAA to provide proof of a transgender athlete’s eligibility to compete on Skyline’s team.

Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA director of communications, told MLive/The Ann Arbor News that the organization granted one waiver for a transgender athlete to compete this fall but could not provide specifics about which school or sport due to privacy concerns.

The MHSAA granted two waivers for the 2024 fall sports season, Kimmerly said.

Kimmerly added in a statement that the association has been in discussions with lawmakers as it navigates conflicting state and federal guidance on transgender athlete eligibility.

He emphasized that the MHSAA must follow the law and rely on courts or the legislature when conflicts arise.

“The MHSAA has communicated with members of the state legislature throughout the fall about this issue, as the legal landscape in this area – under both federal and state law – remains unsettled, and state and federal guidance have evolved in recent years often in competing ways,” Kimmerly said. “…The MHSAA has consistently emphasized that it must follow the law, and when conflicts in law arise, the MHSAA must rely upon the legislature or the courts to provide clarity.”

The MHSAA has pointed to legal conflicts between Trump’s executive order seeking to ban transgender women from female sports and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which protects against gender identity discrimination, as an area needing clarification.

However, Perry said the MHSAA should be following federal law over state law.

“The state of Michigan hides behind the unintended consequences of Elliot Larson and proceeds as though state law trumps federal law,” Perry said. “Federal executive order is being ignored and the buck stops here when the real adults in the room, everybody that showed up here today and everybody behind me, says that this can and will not happen again.”

Linting, who sponsored a two-bill package with Jason Woolford (R-Howell), said the goal is to change policies by banning biological men from competing in women’s sports in Michigan and revising the Elliott-Larsen Act to make such a ban enforceable.

The MHSAA determines eligibility for transgender female athletes on a case-by-case basis, requiring schools to submit documentation at least 30 days before tournament deadlines.

Required materials include school records, medical and psychological information, details on hormone therapy or surgery and a signed waiver allowing disclosure of protected records for eligibility review.

“For more than 50 years, no organization in Michigan has worked harder to expand, support and protect athletic opportunities for girls and young women than the MHSAA – a commitment that has guided our work for decades and remains unchanged today,” Kimmerly said in the MHSAA statement.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on cases involving athletics and transgender participation on Jan. 13, 2026, which could provide more clarification in this ongoing matter.



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Mason Bendinger’s big week earns him Big South Co-Player of the Week – University of South Carolina

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December 9, 2025

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Coming off a 2-0 week for Upstate Men’s Basketball, the Big South Conference announced weekly awards where the Spartans were featured with Mason Bendinger being announced as the Big South Co-Player of the Week. 

The Junior from Salt Lake City, Utah averaged 21.0 points through both games played through the week of Dec. 1- Dec. 6 where he added his career-high of 27 points shooting 7-for-16 from the field and a career-high of 12 made free throws in the overtime win against Coastal Carolina. Bendinger’s three-pointer and layup under the 10-minute mark nearly exploded the roof off the G.B. Hodge Center helping the Spartans tie the game against the Chants with the momentum ultimately carrying Upstate through the second half and finishing the job in overtime. Bendinger followed up with a 15-point performance in Saturday’s win against Western Carolina shooting 5-for-9 from the field, 5-for-7 from the charity stripe, added a season-high of six rebounds and one block. Mason Bendinger is currently ranked #7 in the Big South, averaging 16.1 points per game while being ranked #15 in the NCAA with 70 field goals scored. Through 11 games played, Bendinger has scored in double figures through 10 games played while adding three 20+ point performances and six 15+ point performances. Bendinger has continued to become more accustomed to Division I Basketball along with finding his footing in the Marty Richter system with three-level scoring that he provides on a nightly basis. This marks the first weekly honor for Bendinger as he continues to grow with Upstate.  

Connect with the Spartans                

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Twitter | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans                

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INVEST IN CHAMPIONS – Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here! 



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NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance

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December 9, 2025

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2025 NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance All Times EST First Round Thursday, Dec. 4 No. 4 Colorado def.…

2025 NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance All Times EST

First Round

Thursday, Dec. 4

No. 4 Colorado def. American, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16

No. 4 Kansas def. High Point, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18

No. 6 Baylor def. Arkansas St., 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10

No. 5 Miami (FL) def. Tulsa, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20

No. 4 Indiana def. Toledo, 25-18, 25-15, 25-17

North Carolina def. No. 6 UTEP, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21

No. 8 UCLA def. Georgia Tech, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10

No. 6 N. Iowa def. Utah, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10

Utah St. def. No. 7 Tennessee, 25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11

No. 3 Purdue def. Wright St., 25-13, 25-21, 25-19

No. 1 Kentucky def. Wofford, 25-11, 25-19, 25-12

Cal Poly def. No. 5 BYU, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10

No. 3 Creighton def. Northern Colorado, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8

No. 2 Arizona St. def. Coppin St., 25-11, 25-14, 25-12

No. 4 Southern Cal def. Princeton, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13

No. 3 Wisconsin def. Eastern Ill., 25-11, 25-6, 25-19

Friday, Dec. 5

Marquette def. No. 7 W. Kentucky, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16

Michigan def. No. 8 Xavier, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23

Kansas St. def. No. 8 San Diego vs., 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12

No. 6 TCU def. Steven F. Austin St., 25-8, 26-24, 25-20

Florida def. No. 7 Rice, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19

No. 5 Iowa St. def. St. Thomas (Minn.), 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8

No. 8 Penn St. def. South Florida, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19

No. 1 Pittsburgh def. UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13

No. 2 Louisville def. Loyola Chicago, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12

No. 2 SMU def. Cent. Arkansas, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13

No. 3 Texas A&M def. Campbell, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12

Arizona def. No. 7 South Dakota St., 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15

No. 1 Nebraska def. LIU, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17

No. 1 Texas def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-8, 25-14

No. 4 Minnesota def. Fairfield, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13

No. 2 Stanford def. Utah Valley, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14

Second Round

Friday, Dec. 5

No. 3 Purdue def. No. 6 Baylor, 25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20

No. 4 Indiana def. No. 5 Colorado, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 UCLA, 30-25, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17

No. 4 Kansas def. No. 5 Miami, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25

No. 3 Creighton def. N. Iowa, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21

No. 2 Arizona St. def. Utah St., 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15

No. 3 Wisconsin def. North Carolina, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25

Cal Poly def. No. 4 Southern Cal, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7

Saturday, Dec. 6

No. 2 Louisville def. Marquette, 21-15, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12

No. 1 Pittsburgh def. Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18

No. 1 Texas def. No. 8 Penn St., 25-16, 25-9, 25-19

No. 1 Nebraska def. Kansas St., 25-17, 25-21, 25-16

No. 2 SMU def. Florida, 25-11, 25-21, 26-24

No. 3 Texas A&M def. TCU, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 29-27

No. 4 Minnesota def. No. 5 Iowa St., 25-22, 25-21, 25-14

No. 2 Stanford def. Arizona, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20

Third Round

Thursday, Dec. 11

No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1 p.m.

No. 1 Kentucky vs. Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m.

No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 7 p.m.

No. 2 SMU vs. No. 3 Purdue, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 12

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon

No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.

No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m.

Copyright
© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.



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