Sports

California High Schools Forfeit Matches Over Transgender Athlete in Girls’ Volleyball

AB Hernandez, who competed in track last spring, has also sparked a lawsuit against Jurupa Unified by three female athletes.
California High Schools Forfeit Matches Over Transgender Athlete in Girls’ Volleyball
AB Hernandez (center) flashes a sign while sharing the first-place spot on the podium with Jillene Wetteland (L) and Lelani Laruelle during a medal ceremony for the high jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis on May 31, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Photo
Haika Mrema
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A growing dispute over the participation of a transgender-identifying athlete in girls’ high school sports has led to at least eight forfeits and a new federal lawsuit in Southern California.

The Jurupa Unified School District confirmed that Patriot High School forfeited its Sept. 26 volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School, which rosters senior athlete AB Hernandez, a male competing on the girls’ team. The decision marks the first forfeit from a school within the district, which is about one hour east of Los Angeles.

Haika Mrema
Haika Mrema
Author
Haika Mrema is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times. She is an experienced writer and has covered entertainment and higher-education content for platforms such as Campus Reform and Media Research Center. She holds a B.B.A. from Baylor University where she majored in marketing.