Truckee Schools Switch to California Conference Over Trans Athlete Policy, Igniting Student Outrage

A school district in Truckee, California, has sparked controversy by opting to leave Nevada’s high school sports conference for California’s, a move driven by Nevada’s new policy barring biological males from girls’ sports and locker rooms. The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) will join the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) starting Fall 2025, aligning with California’s stance on trans inclusion in girls’ athletics, despite President Trump’s executive order aimed at keeping men out of women’s sports.

At a heated school board meeting, female athletes and parents voiced deep concerns. Students like Ava Cochram, a track and field competitor, argued that biological males have physical advantages—greater muscle mass, lung capacity, and bone density—that undermine fair competition. “It’s heartbreaking to see our hard work as women diminished,” Cochram said, emphasizing fairness over personal bias. Kenzie Zilstorf, a multi-sport athlete, highlighted privacy violations in shared locker rooms and the risks of traveling through the treacherous Donner Pass during winter for away games, a consequence of the switch. Anna Holly, a soccer player, announced she’s quitting the sport entirely, citing safety and fairness concerns.

The shift means Truckee’s teams, previously traveling east into Nevada, will now head west through California’s snowy, avalanche-prone Donner Pass, raising safety fears for outdoor sports. TTUSD insists the move ensures compliance with California’s anti-discrimination laws, claiming travel distances will decrease, though many remain skeptical given the pass’s notorious conditions.

California’s defiance of the federal order has drawn scrutiny. The CIF, like other blue-state conferences, faces a U.S. Department of Education investigation, with potential federal funding cuts looming. This decision underscores a broader clash between state and federal priorities, leaving student athletes caught in the crossfire, their voices echoing a plea for fairness and safety.