The beleaguered girls’ varsity basketball team from Mid-Vermont Christian School in Quechee, VT, is headed to the New England Association of Christian Schools Championship game. This is a year after they made international headlines for taking a principled stand against playing a school boasting a biological male athlete, identifying as “trans,” standing nearly 6’3” tall.
The school is currently awaiting a trial hearing for the suit brought on their behalf by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a non-profit legal firm. The suit names head coach Chris Goodwin and his wife as the chief plaintiffs, especially on behalf of their children, who have been unfairly punished as a result of Vermont athletic policy being levied against them rather than on behalf of their constitutionally protected religious freedom of conscience. Among the defendants are Vermont Principal’s Association Executive Director Jay Nichols, Interim Secretary of Vermont Agency of Education Heather Bouchey, Chair of the Vermont State Board of Education Jennifer Deck Samuelson, Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Superintendent Hartland School Board, Orange East Supervisory Union Superintendent Randall Gawel, and the Waits River Valley School Board.
The irony escaping many in Vermont is the call for tolerance and inclusion by those in power somehow doesn’t extend to the small private school. The same oppressor versus oppressed ideology the state of Vermont has imbibed and adopted from its political activists, including those crafting policies and laws, somehow misses the very obvious power of the state oppressing a tiny Christian school with even smaller girls playing against a well-funded private school that recruits from across the country. However, this philosophical argument is not the crux of the matter, but rather the constitutional protection the school and students have per the first amendment. This is the case being made by the ADF lawyers, who are no strangers to battling case law against the state of Vermont, which has repeatedly violated the rights of its citizens.
After speaking with ADF’s Media Relations Manager, Jaqueline Robeiro, she sent along the press releases and case filings as presented to the Vermont District Court, as well as other cases ADF has taken in the state. Among them are parents and the Burlington Diocese case, which was won back in 2022, changing a twenty-year history of religious discrimination by the state. At the root of this case was the state withholding tuition from students of religious schools while offering them to other students who were eligible for the same benefit, the only difference being the religious nature of the student.
As a tax-payer and Christian myself, the stunning arrogance of public officials living off the largesse of tax money we, the earners, provide the state, to then deny us the very money we provide over constitutionally protected religious freedoms is the height of political oppression. Specifically, the government is an institution built from the money of the people for the will of the people and supports itself with armed enforcement to enact that will. To use the enforcing power of the state against religious people who simply want equal rights to an education violates true equity and is also tyranny.
Luckily, the ADF has a record of winning these cases, even in Vermont.
Also with a record of winning are the young ladies representing MVCS today (Saturday) in the championship game held at the Central Christian Academy in Southington, CT, at 1pm. Though embroiled in an international story of controversy, the bantam team known as the Eagles has soared above the fray to win the NEACS Northern division and will face off against the champions of the Southern division from Central Christian.
The Eagles’ continue their David vs. Goliath saga as they bring not only an undersized team with only eight of a possible twelve players, they have no seniors while having to bring up more than one eighth grader to fill out their starting five. MVCS Assistant Coach Helen Jenks is encouraged by the team’s growth over the season and ability to scrap with bigger and more experienced teams.
On their road to the championship, they have had to come from behind on more than one occasion carried by sometimes sharp-shooting guard, eighth-grader Myranda Goodwin, who hit three three-point goals in the Northern finals to bolster the Eagles to victory. MVCS inside game is shored up by Lydia Dickey, who stands a solid 6’ and has the physical strength to dominate in the post. Her 17 points, 15 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blocks, and 1 assist in the semi-finals led to her being awarded the tournament MVP.
Though many schools may have succumbed to the media pressure and social ostracism so common in today’s cancel culture, the Eagles prove their faith is at least the size of a mustard seed, if not as big as a full-grown tree. The story of this team reminds one of yet another Bible lesson taught by Joseph to his brothers, whom he admonished, “What you intended for evil, God intended for good.”
With any luck, the defendants who’ve used the power of government in Vermont to violate the rights of these girls will come to the same realization.
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
