Lawmakers Give BSU Women’s Volleyball Team a Letter of Appreciation

Several Idaho lawmakers sent the Boise State Broncos women’s volleyball team a letter thanking them for standing up for women’s sports.

The women’s team forfeited three matches against San Jose State University this year because of a male player on the SJSU women’s team. The final forfeit came in the Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball tournament, ultimately ending the Broncos season.

The Broncos received national praise for their bravery in standing up for women’s sports, including praise from elected officials in Idaho. Several Idaho lawmakers wanted to get the team a letter before their winter break, which begins this Friday after finals.

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Here is the full letter:

“Dear Coach Garus,
We commend you and the Boise State University Women’s Volleyball Team for your courageous decision to forfeit the semi-final match during the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship Tournament. The integrity and commitment to fairness you and your athletes demonstrated exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship and leadership. Your courage in making this decision is truly inspiring.

This principled stand, made in defense of fairness in women’s sports, upholds the values enshrined in Title IX and Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. By forfeiting the match against San Jose State University, whose roster included a male player, your team demonstrated tremendous resolve and a deep commitment to protecting opportunities for female athletes.

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We recognize how difficult this decision must have been, especially after your team earned their tournament spot through hard-fought victories. Your athletes demonstrated exceptional skill on the court and remarkable courage in standing up for fairness. Their determination is a source of pride for all who support women’s sports.

Your leadership and the principled actions of the Boise State Women’s Volleyball Team inspire countless Idahoans and Americans who share a commitment to protecting the opportunities for women that Title IX was designed to secure. By taking this stand, your team has become a role model for the next generation of female athletes, demonstrating the value of integrity and standing firm for fairness, even in the face of
opposition to these principles.

Please extend our heartfelt gratitude to your players for their dedication to fairness and their contributions to preserving the integrity of women’s sports. Your courage will not be forgotten, and it strengthens the ongoing efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all female athletes.”

The following lawmakers sent the letter:

Sen. Christy Zito (R-Hammett), Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld (R-Twin Falls), Sen. Josh Kohl (R-Twin Falls), Rep. Faye Thompson (R-McCall), Rep. Lucas Cayler (R-Caldwell), Rep. Kent Marmon (R-Caldwell), Rep. Clint Hostetler (R-Twin Falls), Rep. David Leavitt (R-Twin Falls)

Idaho was the first state to ban men from participating in women’s sports. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on the issue soon.

Did you support the BSU women’s team forfeiting their matches? Let us know in the comments below.