High School Wrestler Alleges Sexual Assault by Trans-Identifying Opponent

School officials failed to report incident to police for nearly two months, raising concerns about student safety and policies on transgender athletes

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A 16-year-old high school wrestler in Washington state alleges she was sexually assaulted during a match by a trans-identifying male opponent. The school district did not report the incident to law enforcement for nearly two months, despite being required by law to do so. The case has raised concerns about the safety of female athletes and the policies around transgender participation in girls' sports.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the complex issues surrounding transgender participation in high school sports, particularly in contact sports like wrestling where physical differences between biological males and females can be significant. It also raises questions about whether school officials are prioritizing ideology over the safety and dignity of female athletes.

The details

Kallie Keeler, a sophomore at Rogers High School, says the incident occurred during a December 6th match against a wrestler from Emerald Ridge High School. Keeler alleges that during the match, her opponent "reached between her legs and, very forcefully for several seconds, tried to push her fingers in her vagina." Keeler says she was shocked and immediately knew something was wrong, but allowed herself to be pinned to end the match. Keeler later learned her opponent was a biological male who identifies as female. Despite Keeler reporting the incident to her coach, the school district did not notify law enforcement for nearly two months, a violation of state law requiring mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or sexual assault.

  • The alleged incident occurred on December 6, 2025 during a girls' wrestling match.
  • Keeler reported the incident to her coach on December 8, 2025.
  • The school district did not notify law enforcement until late January 2026, nearly two months after the alleged assault.

The players

Kallie Keeler

A 16-year-old sophomore wrestler at Rogers High School who alleges she was sexually assaulted by her trans-identifying male opponent during a match.

Emerald Ridge High School

The high school of Keeler's opponent, who is a biological male identifying as female.

Puyallup School District

The school district that failed to report Keeler's allegations to law enforcement for nearly two months, despite being legally required to do so.

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What they’re saying

“That has never happened. Out of all the years I've wrestled.”

— Kallie Keeler, High School Wrestler (unDivided)

“This is a huge issue and something that is 100% not OK. The fact that this was done by a biological male who identifies as a female is an even bigger issue for me. Where do we go from here?”

— Kallie Keeler's Mother (unDivided)

What’s next

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office has confirmed a criminal investigation is underway into the alleged incident. The case has also raised concerns about the broader policies around transgender athletes competing in girls' sports, with Washington being one of several states under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and sensitive issues surrounding transgender participation in high school sports, particularly in contact sports like wrestling. It raises serious questions about the safety and dignity of female athletes, as well as whether school officials are prioritizing ideology over their legal and ethical obligations to protect student welfare.