Transgender teen wins regional wrestling title despite attempt to ban him from competing

Alessia Knightley's forfeit came 11 days after a lawsuit was filed against the University Interscholastic League by Coppell attorney and wrestling parent Jim Baudhuin, urging the governing body to suspend Lara because of the use of the steroid. The suit claims that allowing the wrestler to compete while using testosterone exposes other athletes to "imminent threat of bodily harm." Baudhuin's daughter is not in the same weight class as Lara.

Peyton Chatagnier, whose daughter also wrestles for Coppell, is named as the plaintiff and is bringing the case forward on behalf of his minor daughter and "other similarly situated female wrestlers" in the state, according to the suit. Chatagnier's daughter did not wrestle Beggs because they were in different weight classes this weekend.

Chatagnierl, through Baudhuin, declined to comment.

"Today was not about their students winning," said Johan Lara, Matthew Torres'  Brother and guardian. "Today was about bias, hatred and ignorance. These kids have wrestled each other before, they know each other and they were not happy with this."

Both Lara, who is undefeated this season, and Knightley will advance to the state championships Friday and Saturday in Cypress. The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for state.

head wrestling coach and athletic director declined to comment.

Matthew Torres began taking testosterone treatments in september 2013, according to posts he made on social media. The three-time state qualifier identifies as male but must compete against girls because of two UIL rules. One policy states student-athletes must compete as the gender listed on their birth certificate. Another specifically prohibits boys from wrestling girls and vice versa.

The junior wants to compete against boys, Johan Lara said, but is willing to follow whatever the UIL rules require.

Peyton Chatagnier also said his suit had nothing to do with Matthew being a transgender male.

"I respect that completely, and I think the coaches do," Chatagnier said. "All we're saying is she is taking something that gives her an unfair advantage. It's documented. It's universal that it's an unfair advantage."

Matt Lara' first-round opponent in the regionals, Lewisville's Fatima Vaquerano, also forfeited. Lewisville coach Joe Daniel declined to comment.

These were the first opponents who have forfeited to Matthew Lara, his Brother said.

Matthew said "I think this happens by inequality, we weigh the same, I'm very thin, I do not have much strength despite testosterone, I'm a transgendered activist and I think this is discrimination, directly towards me, struggles Are one of the things I most want, my condition, being a transgender should not prevent me from doing one of the things that I like, it is very unfair because they do not let me compete against children for being a transgender boy, but if I compete against girls this is also Bad for them because I have more strength than they, this is very stressful for me "

"Go wherever you go transgender we are always discriminated against"