Minnesota and governor Tim Walz are under attack from critics of transgender athletes in women’s sports after one such softball pitcher shut out the state’s defending champions in a pivotal high school game.
‘A dude pitcher led his team to the women’s softball title in Minnesota,’ read an X post from Outkick Sports’ Clay Travis. ‘Nice work @GovTimWalz.’
Described by the Star Tribune as ‘perennial bridesmaids’ in Class 4A, Section 5 Minnesota softball, Champlin Park defeated Rogers, 1-0, to secure a trip to Mankato next week for the first state tournament appearance in school history.
The section championship was a pitchers’ duel between Rogers’ AnnaBelle Waldoch and Champlin Park’s Marissa Rothenberger, the latter of whom is believed to be transgender.
‘You could tell she was ready to play today,’ senior infielder Reese Reimler told the Star Tribune of Rothenberger after her shutout. ‘We have 110% confidence in her. She’s the hardest worker I know.’
At nine, Rothenberger’s mother applied in district court to alter her child’s birth certificate after their ninth birthday, with the petition being approved, per Reduxx. Rothenberger was issued a new birth certificate showing to be born female, switching their name from ‘Charlie Dean’ to Marissa.
Minnesota high school softball player Marissa Rothenberger has made headlines in 2025
Rothenberger appears to be referenced in a lawsuit against Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison filed earlier in the month. The complaint, obtained by Daily Mail, claims a ‘male’ pitcher playing for Champlin Park’s girls team has created an unfair playing field for female rivals, who have been denied honors and opportunities as a result.
A spokesman for Anoka-Hennepin school district declined to comment about Rothenberger to DailyMail, citing privacy rules. However, the school has released a general statement.
‘Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student athletes participating for the Champlin Park Softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law,’ read the statement.
‘Due to data privacy laws, the District is not able to provide public comment regarding a specific student athlete. In addition, the District is named in an active lawsuit, which limits what information can be shared.’
Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, has been an ally to trans athletes. In 2023, he signed the ‘Trans Refuge” bill to shield those seeking such care from punishment
President Donald Trump has been working to rid female sports from transgender athletes by signing an executive order threatening to withhold funding from any institution that violates the declaration.
Statistics on transgender participation in female sports aren’t comprehensive.
However, in December, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified that fewer than 10 are competing among 500,000 collegiate student athletes in the country.
The American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association have both stated that gender is a spectrum and not a binary structure, as the White House argued in its January 20 executive order ‘defending women from gender ideology.’
Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, has been an ally to trans athletes. In 2023, he signed the ‘Trans Refuge” bill to shield those seeking and providing gender-affirming care in the state.
He’s also disregarded Trump’s recent “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order by permitting trans athletes to continue competing with high school girls.
