Keeler’s mother described the incident as “100% not OK” and said she had learned Keeler’s opponent was “a biological male who identifies as a female,” asking, “Where do we go from here?”
Authorities are now investigating after a female high school student in Washington was allegedly sexually assaulted by a trans-identified male opponent during a December wrestling match, which was reportedly not addressed by the school for nearly two months.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an allegation that a 16-year-old Rogers High School student was sexually assaulted during a girls' wrestling match on Dec. 6 against Emerald Ridge High School, after the Puyallup School District reported the claim to law enforcement nearly two months later.
https://twitter.com/BrandiKruse/status/2020921228538806498?s=20
According to Brandi Kruse, host of the UnDivided podcast, Kallie Keeler, a 190-pound wrestler and sophomore at Rogers, alleged that during the match, she was on the mat face down when her opponent’s fingers made forceful contact inside her vagina. A video recorded by her mother from the stands shows Keeler appearing distressed during the match. Keeler said she ended the match quickly by allowing herself to be pinned. Afterward, another coach told Keeler that her opponent was a biological male, and she told her mother what had happened.
https://twitter.com/BrandiKruse/status/2020995276010553713?s=20
Two days after the match, Keeler’s parents emailed Rogers coaches to ask what the school planned to do. In the email, Keeler’s mother described the incident as “100% not OK” and said she had learned Keeler’s opponent was “a biological male who identifies as a female,” asking, “Where do we go from here?”
https://twitter.com/BrandiKruse/status/2021052492180840920?s=20
In a Dec. 8 email response, Keeler’s coach wrote that she would investigate and follow up after “due diligence.” The family said they did not receive a subsequent update. According to the family, Keeler contacted the publication’s tip line on Jan. 25, saying the incident made her reconsider continuing in the sport because she did not feel safe. UnDivided said it emailed the Puyallup School District for comment on Jan. 29. The district reported the allegations to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office the following day, Jan. 30, even though the incident occurred in early December.
In a Jan. 30 email statement to unDivided, the district said the matter was under investigation and that it was “legally required to protect the privacy of students and families,” adding: “Student safety is a top priority and all reports involving student safety are taken seriously.”
https://twitter.com/Moms4Liberty/status/2021012612314525742?s=20
Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto told unDivided that a School Resource Officer was asked by the school to investigate a report of sexual assault at a wrestling match and that the incident “allegedly happened during the match between the victim and a transgender student the victim was wrestling at the time.” Cappetto said the officer reviewed video of the match and planned to follow up with the student for more information, adding that the investigation remained active.
Under Washington’s mandatory reporting law, school staff are required to report suspected child abuse, including allegations of sexual assault, to authorities. Failure to report can be charged as a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both. The family told UnDivided that multiple school officials were informed in December. Kruse shared the video with two wrestling coaches, one with decades of experience and one female coach, who both said the specific hand placement shown did not appear typical of standard wrestling contact and could be intentional.
https://twitter.com/TravisSCouture/status/2021116389176590428?s=20
Kruse previously reported that a group of female high school students recently said their school did not address their concerns about several biological males in the girls’ locker room. State Sen. Chris Gildon, Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, and Rep. Michael Keaton, Republicans representing the Puyallup area, issued a joint statement addressing recent allegations involving the district, including Keeler’s claim and separate concerns raised by students about biological males in girls’ locker rooms.
https://twitter.com/WaHouseGOP/status/2020962138391822680?s=20
In the statement, the lawmakers said allegations of victimization must be treated “with the utmost seriousness,” noted that school personnel are mandated reporters, and called on the district to be “completely open and accountable” and to hold responsible anyone who failed to act or covered up allegations. The lawmakers also cited two citizen-led initiatives they said would strengthen parental rights and keep boys out of girls’ sports.
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