4 Developments in Case of High School Wrestler Allegedly Assaulted by Male Opponent

Kallie Keeler, the 16-year-old who reported her opponent — a boy — for sexually assaulting her during a wrestling match, waited nearly two months for her high school to investigate the complaint.

Now, Keeler’s experience is the subject of two law enforcement investigations and an escalating debate over Washington state’s “gender inclusive” policies.

Below are the four most important updates in the case of Kallie Keeler.

The Department of Education (DOE) launched a civil rights investigation into Keeler’s case on February 13. The inquiry will determine whether Puyallup School District violated Title IX by:

• Allowing a boy to participate in girls sports.
• Allowing a boy to change in a girls locker room.
• “Failing to adequately respond to allegations of sexual assault.”

Keeler did not say whether she encountered her alleged assailant in the locker room, but other Puyallup students say they have.

In January, independent journalist Brandi Kruse reported twelve female wrestlers from Emerald Ridge High School, where the boy is one of two males on the girls wrestling team, asked school leadership to make the boys change in a different area.

The group of girls alleged the boys would come into the locker room and watch them change — even if the duo were already dressed for practice.

Keeler alleges her high school did not report her experience to police until January 30, nearly two months after the incident occurred. Washington public school officials must legally report all allegations of sexual assault to police within 48 hours.

The Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association confirmed Keeler’s male opponent withdrew from the girl’s state wrestling championship on or around February 16.

He had qualified for the state tournament as a freshman with no prior wrestling experience. In his absence, a female wrestler will get her rightful chance to compete.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office finished investigating Keeler’s case in mid-February. Investigators subsequently recommended Pierce County prosecutors charge the alleged offender with rape in the third degree — a felony.

The prosecutor’s office acknowledged receiving recommended charges but declined to reveal what they are. Prosecutors say they are working with the case detective to obtain additional evidence.

The prosecutor’s office will decide whether the evidence in Keeler’s case is strong enough to win a conviction in court.

Parents and community members showed up in force at a Puyallup School District Board Meeting last week.

Several attendees asked the board pointed questions about district employees’ alleged failure to follow mandatory reporting requirements.

“What are you as a school board going to do to ensure the safety of girls that you are responsible for?” A father of three daughters asked. “And why did the staff not report this to the police when they were initially informed?”

Other comments revealed the depth of the problems “gender inclusivity” policies have caused in the district. One attendee began:

The commentor connected all four incidents to the erosion of parental rights:

Washington is equally to blame for the situation in Puyallup School District. The state’s the laws and school policies make protecting girls a fire-able offence.

Washington public schools require students participate in sports and use facilities consistent with their “gender identity,” not their sex.

Officials cannot preemptively ask a transgender-identified student to change in a private area unless the student requests it themselves.

Officials cannot disclose the sex of a transgender-identified student without their permission, which means female athletes do not always get the chance to refuse to compete against a boy.

Laws like these make the victimization of Keeler and other female students and athletes a virtual guarantee.

Washingtonians submitted two initiatives to the state legislature in January to shore up parental rights in education and prevent males from competing in female sports.

To learn more about the initiatives, read the Daily Citizen’s story here.

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