It’s been a long and challenging two years for the girls’ basketball team at Mid-Vermont Christian School.
After refusing to compete against a transgender player in 2023, the team found itself banned from state competitions, and that decision has created a ripple effect that’s still being felt by players and coaches alike.
Now, head coach Chris Goodwin is speaking out about the devastating impact this ban has had on his athletes, their opportunities, and their future in sports.
The Forfeit that Led to an Unprecedented Ban
In February 2023, Mid-Vermont Christian School’s girls’ basketball team forfeited a game against Long Trail because of a transgender player on the opposing team.
The forfeit led to the school being slapped with a one-year athletics ban, which later turned into an indefinite suspension.
The school was kicked out of the Vermont Principals’ Association, leaving them unable to participate in any state athletic competitions—both male and female teams alike.
Despite several legal attempts to reverse the decision, including a lawsuit against state officials, the ban has persisted.
On Wednesday, the school took their fight to the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York City after facing setbacks in state and federal courts.
The Devastating Loss for Student-Athletes
Coach Goodwin shared how deeply the ban has affected his players, many of whom have missed out on major opportunities like championships, awards, scholarships, and state-level competitions.
“What’s been taken away from them through this whole thing is they’ve lost those opportunities,” Goodwin said. “I really feel bad for the older kids who missed out on that.
The juniors and seniors who played for me before—they didn’t get to experience that… and that’s a shame.”
The disappointment is palpable for both players and coaches, as Goodwin stresses how vital it is to win this legal battle.
He’s determined to ensure future student-athletes don’t face the same fate and can compete without obstacles. “I just wish that it could be changed.
But we are where we are now, and we’re looking forward to getting back into State Athletics in the near future.”
Legal Battle Escalates as Alliance Defending Freedom Takes the Lead
Mid-Vermont’s legal battle is now being backed by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian legal advocacy group known for defending religious freedom.
According to ADF attorney Ryan Tucker, the decision to ban the school’s teams from all state competitions is “unprecedented.”
He argued that the Vermont Principals’ Association punished Mid-Vermont for holding beliefs that differ from the state’s stance on gender identity in sports.
“Certainly common sense should play into it,” Tucker said.
“At its core, Mid-Vermont Christian believes that boys are boys and girls are girls, and the state has differing beliefs.”
The ADF is adamant that the ban is not just unjust, but unconstitutional, and they are hopeful the U.S. Court of Appeals will rule in favor of Mid-Vermont Christian, allowing their athletes to return to competition.
Vermont’s Stance and the National Debate Over Transgender Athletes
The controversy over transgender athletes in women’s sports continues to be a hot-button issue across the country, especially after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January, banning biological males from competing in female sports.
Many states, including Vermont, have voiced their opposition to this stance, arguing that trans women should be allowed to compete in women’s categories.
The Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) decided that Mid-Vermont’s refusal to play against a transgender athlete violated their policy on gender identity, which allows students to compete based on their gender identity.
The VPA also cited Vermont state law, which mandates protection against discrimination based on sex and gender.
Optimism for Victory Amid Ongoing Legal Struggles
Despite the challenges, Coach Goodwin remains optimistic about their legal prospects.
“If this was a basketball game, I would love to think that we’re up by 20 points with 30 seconds left,” he said. “But it seems like in this situation, it’s more like we’re going into overtime and it’s anybody’s ball game.
We think we have a better team, and we think we’re going to come out with a victory.”
If the case does not end in their favor at the appellate level, Mid-Vermont and ADF are prepared to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
Goodwin remains hopeful that the legal team will succeed and that his athletes will soon be able to return to state competitions, where they belong.