MINNEAPOLIS — The Champlin Park Rebels are headed to the Minnesota High School Girls’ Softball State Championship following a dramatic 3-2 semifinal win over White Bear Lake — but it’s not just the on-field action that’s drawing attention.
Central to the Rebels’ victory was junior Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete whose performance on the mound and at the plate helped lead the No. 2-seeded team to the Class 4A final. Rothenberger, who identifies as female but is biologically male, pitched a complete game, tallying three strikeouts and allowing two runs — one of them earned — on seven hits.
After a shaky start that saw Champlin Park fall behind 2-0, Rothenberger helped engineer a rally with a key double in the fifth inning, tying the game 2-2. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Rothenberger delivered another double that set up the game-winning sequence. A courtesy runner replaced Rothenberger, eventually scoring on a clutch single by outfielder Ava Parent.
The game-winning hit punched the Rebels’ ticket to the championship, where they will face No. 4-seeded Bloomington Jefferson on Friday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at the University of Minnesota.
However, the semifinal win has sparked debate. Critics, including some parents and conservative commentators, argue that Rothenberger’s participation in the girls’ division raises questions about competitive fairness. The situation has also drawn criticism of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, with some expressing frustration over state policies that allow transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity.
Supporters of inclusion, meanwhile, point to Minnesota State High School League guidelines that permit transgender students to participate in sports aligned with their gender identity, a stance consistent with recommendations from major medical and athletic organizations.
As the Rebels prepare for their title game, the focus on the field is increasingly intertwined with a broader national conversation about the intersection of gender identity and high school athletics.
