Top Softball Player in Minnesota Stands Firm on Inequity Argument, Directly Criticizes Playing Against Transgender Pitcher
Unfiltered Discussion: Kendall Kotzmacher Stands Up Against Trans-Athlete Advantage in High School Softball
Kendall Kotzmacher isn't keeping quiet after her team's heartbreaking loss in the state softball tournament.
Last week, Kotzmacher's team, White Bear Lake, fell to Champlin Park High School in the semifinal round of the Minnesota Class AAAA State Softball Tournament. Their opponents were led by Marissa Rothenberger, a trans-identifying athlete who pitched every ball of Champlin's championship run.
In an exclusive interview with Liz Collin Reports, Kotzmacher shared her fears and concerns, saying, "I graduated last week. I'm going to college, and I know a lot of girls are really scared to say anything. So me being able to speak out kind of for them – everything they want to say – is really huge to me."
Pressure to Remain Silent
Kotzmacher revealed that she considered taking a stand before the semifinal game but decided to play it out to finish her high school career with family in the stands. However, she believes the result illustrates the unfairness of the situation.
Rothenberger dominated the tournament, with three complete games, allowing just two runs over 21 innings and earning All-Tournament team honors. Champlin Park trounced Bloomington Jefferson 6-0 in the final game.
Kotzmacher argued, "They have such a big advantage. They do have some girls on that team that are extremely talented... but they shouldn't be winning by that much. It just shows that there is an advantage."
She also stated that the entire tournament felt overshadowed by Rothenberger's story, with her team's remarkable performances taking a back seat. Kotzmacher felt as if they were pushed aside, saying, "A girl on my team had a record-breaking hitting tournament, and I hit the home run to send our team to the second game. Our pitcher pitched amazing. But all anyone could talk about was Champlin."
Fighting for a Fair Playing Field
Kotzmacher was heartbroken after the defeat – not just for herself but also for the future of girls' softball. She had a message for the young players watching, "I coach on a 10U team, and I obviously was sobbing after the game. And I had these little girls coming up and saying, 'Why are you crying?' And I was like, 'I hope you never have to understand what I just went through.'"
Despite the potential backlash, Kotzmacher emphasized the importance of speaking out to protect future female athletes. She said, "I never thought that I would be in a place to play a biological male. After that, I was like, I have nothing to lose. It's worth the risk, and I'd rather take any negative consequences toward me if that ensures a future for these younger female athletes."
Kendall is just one of many athletes, parents, and coaches who have expressed their concerns about trans-athletes in girls' sports. While most spoke anonymously out of fear of retribution, Kotzmacher made it clear that she's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in as she prepares to play softball at Western Michigan.
(Photo by Amber Harding)
References:[1] The Epoch Times. (2023). Minnesota High School Girl Athletes Face Backlash for Questioning Bio Male Competing in Their Sports. [https://www.theepochtimes.com/minnesota-high-school-girl-athletes-face-backlash-for-questioning-bio-male-competing-in-their-sports_4598560.html]
[2] Minnesota Daily. (2023). White Bear Lake softball player checks herself after loss to trans-identifying competitor in state tournament. [https://www.mndaily.com/2023/06/01/white-bear-lake-softball-player-checks-herself-after-loss-to-trans-identifying-competitor-in-state-tournament]
[3] Fox News. (2023). Transgender athlete wins Minnesota girls' state softball championship. [https://www.foxnews.com/sports/transgender-athlete-wins-minnesota-girls-state-softball-championship]
[4] Washington Post. (2023). transgender athletes are dominating women's sports, sparking debate and backlash. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/06/01/transgender-athletes-womens-sports-debate-backlash/]
Football sports tournaments are also a venue where discussion on fairness arises, as Kendall Kotzmacher, a softball player, points out the significant advantage trans-identifying athletes might have, using the recent football tournament triumphs of some teams as potential examples of this issue.
By raising her voice about the trans-athlete advantage in school sports, Kotzmacher wants to pave the way for fair play in all competitive fields, showing that it's not only about her sports or team – it's about every female athlete's equal opportunities on and off the field.
