A Puyallup-area high school wrestler who says she was sexually assaulted by a transgender athlete during a match is asking a federal judge to step in.PREVIOUS C
A Puyallup-area high school wrestler who says she was sexually assaulted by a transgender athlete during a match is asking a federal judge to step in.
The student and her mother are suing the school district, state education officials and others, claiming the policies violate Title IX.
Her attorneys were back in court Tuesday, seeking an injunction in a lawsuit that challenges policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports.
The allegations
According to the lawsuit, filed in federal court in June, a student-athlete from Rogers High School in Puyallup was unknowingly competing against a transgender athlete from Emerald Ridge High School who allegedly groped her during a wrestling match in December 2025.
Pierce County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against the athlete accused in the incident, saying they did not believe they could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, Rogers High School's principal and athletic director are both facing charges for failing to report the incident to authorities for nearly two months. Attorneys for the district say the two acted based on the information they had at the time, and that once they learned of the sexual assault allegations, the district immediately launched an investigation.
Lawsuit filed in federal court
The student and her mother are now suing to force policy changes regarding transgender athletes' participation in school sports.
"The most important thing is that parents have a right to know if their child is going to be put in an unsafe situation, like being on a wrestling mat with a male athlete," said Hal Frampton, with the Center for Conscience Initiatives at Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the family. "They deserve notice and the right to opt out of that situation."
Attorneys for the student-athlete claim the district violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports. They are asking that parents be notified when transgender athletes are participating in school sports and be given the ability to opt their children out of competing against them.
But there are concerns that could violate other students' right to privacy.
"Title IX protects biological sex. That's clear from the Supreme Court's decision," Frampton said. "Sex is what matters in Title IX, and we are asking for equal opportunity for biologically female athletes."
The district's response
Attorneys for the Puyallup School District dispute that the district violated Title IX and say an internal investigation into the issue is ongoing.
District officials have said they are unable to discuss the specifics of the case while the investigation continues, but said student safety is its top priority and that all reports involving student safety are taken seriously.
