Colorado high school volleyball players faced alleged benching threat amid trans athlete dispute

Two Colorado high school volleyball players were threatened with benching after discussing a transgender athlete in their program, according to a parent complaint alleging the girls were ultimately allowed to play on condition they stop discussing the issue. The school district that oversees the school, Jefferson County Schools, is currently under Title IX investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.

A screenshot of an email, obtained by OutKick, from Dakota Ridge High School's head volleyball coach to a parent says the parent's daughter would miss a match over reports of alleged bullying. The screenshot does not identify the actual words that were used.

"Over the past several days, we have received multiple reports alleging that your daughter used language toward teammates that could be characterized as bullying," the message bearing the coach's name states.

"As a result, your daughter will not be eligible to participate in todays match."

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The message says the volleyball program emphasizes character, respect and how players treat one another, describing the reported behavior as falling short of its standards. It offers to discuss the matter with the parent after the match.

Meanwhile, Tanna Donalson, whose daughter was cut from the program in August, wrote in an Oct. 6 email to district that her daughter had reported two varsity players were told they would be benched after discussing the situation among friends. Donalson said she was subsequently informed that, after the players parents met with the coach and the athletic director, the girls were permitted to play on condition they not discuss the issue again.

The email was seen by OutKick in a copy of a Title IX complaint Donalson submitted to the Education Department.

"[The daughter] reported that Mr. Zeman pulled three varsity volleyball players aside and told two of them they would be benched for todays game because they had discussed this issue amongst themselves. According to the account relayed to me, four friends had been discussing privately what they had learned, and one reported the conversation to a teacher. I was further informed that, after the two players parents met with the athletic director and Mr. Zeman, the players were permitted to play on the condition that they not discuss the issue again," Donalson wrote.

"Please determine what was said, the basis for the proposed benching, and whether participation was conditioned on refraining from discussion of or support for our complaint."

Lindsay Datko, founder of the parent advocacy group Jeffco Kids First, also said she had reviewed emails concerning the threatened discipline.

"We have seen emails showing that girls were threatened to be benched because they were expressing their frustration in a very adolescent manner," Datko told OutKick.

But Datko added the coach backed away from the threatened benching.

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Jeffco Chief Legal Counsel Julie Tolleson acknowledged Donalsons report in an Oct. 6 email response.

"She can include these matters in her review, though we wont be able to discuss with you any disciplinary or other action invo