WASHINGTON — The Education Department has looped in the Department of Justice on its investigation of Minnesota’s State High School League (MSHL) after a transgender athlete led the girls’ softball team at Champlin Park High School to its first-ever state championship last week.
Transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger caused rivals to cry foul after she pitched five games in a row — including all three in the Class 4A tournament — and only gave up one run in 35 innings.
In the title game against Bloomington Jefferson, Rothenberger pitched a complete game shutout, striking out six and surrendering just three hits and no walks.
Three female softball players from Maple Grove High School and Farmington High School have filed a lawsuit against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, arguing that Champlin Park gained an unfair advantage with Rothenberger able to shoulder the pitching load in a way that a biological female could not.
The investigation of the MSHL and the Minnesota Education Department will be carried out by a newly established Title IX Special Investigations Team, comprised of both Education Departmetn and Justice Department personnel and meant to enforce President Trump’s February executive order to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
If found to be noncompliant, both organizations risk losing all federal funding.
“Minnesota’s continued indifference to females’ civil rights is completely unacceptable,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement announcing the elevated investigation.
“We must ensure women and girls are not stripped of their hard-earned accolades or subjected to the danger and indignity of unfair competitions, and we will fight to restore antidiscrimination protections under Title IX to the fullest extent of the law.”
But supporters of including trans athletes in women’s sports point to the MSHL allowing their inclusion since 2014.
Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has stood behind transgender competition in girls’ sports, telling the Independent last month “it’s a mistake” for the party to abandon the issue.
“Here’s the thing,” he said, “we need to tell people your cost of eggs, your health care being denied, your homeowner’s insurance, your lack of getting warning on tornadoes coming has nothing to do with someone’s gender.”
The MSHL and the Minnesota Education Department did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Post.
