Mack Beggs raised his arms in a gesture of triumph as he emerged as the first transgender boy to win the University Interscholastic League (UIL) state girl’s wrestling championship in Texas. Following his victory, a cacophony of both applause and disapproval erupted as the junior from Trinity High in Euless, Texas was crowned champion of the girl’s 6A class. Because Beggs was routinely receiving testosterone injections to complete his transition from a girl to a boy, he became the target of angry criticism from both coaches and parents who had deemed his victory to be unfair. Nonetheless, his achievement continued to inspire many LGBQT+ students to pursue victories in athletics without being ashamed of their gender and sexual orientation, and sparked a controversy that succeeded in putting the spotlight on young transgender athletes.

Mackenzie “Mack” Beggs was born as a female and had begun medical treatment, which included testosterone injections and subcutaneous mastectomy, in 2015 after five years of publicly identifying as a boy. In the conservative state of Texas, Beggs was immediately ridiculed after defeating opponent Chelsea Sanchez in the final 110-pound classification round.

“She’s standing there holding her head high like she’s the winner. She’s not winning. She’s cheating,”  Patti Overstreet, mother of a boy’s division wrestler, said to the Post.

Jordan Gutierrez, attendee of the state championship, backed Overstreet’s opinion with logical reasoning. He believed that the gender an individual chooses to identify with should also be the gender that they compete with.

“If you’re going to … transition to a male then you should continue to take the roles of a male and compete as a male, because that’s what you want to be,” Gutierrez said to CNN.

Two female competitors even forfeited in fear of facing the “imminent threat of bodily harm”. However, it was confirmed by CNN that Breggs had appealed to the UIL to wrestle in the boy’s state championship prior to entering the girl’s, but was ultimately denied. The UIL is an organization that regulates and makes rules for athletic, musical, and academic contests in Texas. Their requirements for the state wrestling championship stipulated that the wrestler must only compete with members of the same gender, as shown on his or her birth certificate.

Beggs is one of the many LGBQT+ athletes to make it to national headlines. In the modern society, the participation of LGBQT+ people in the sports field have prominently increased, as well as support and favor on their behalf from a majority of the nation’s youth. Two of CHS’ wrestlers voice their opinions on the topic of transgender participation on the mat.

“I think transgender girls and boys should decide whichever gender team to be on. Their own comfort should come on top of anything else,” junior Daniela Lemus said.

Junior Eric Tran holds a similar opinion, and disagrees on UIL’s wrestling requisite.

“Transgendered people in sports should be given the same opportunities as everyone else. However, I think that given wrestling’s physical aspect, it’s a matter of biology,” Tran said. “Gender in sports are segregated for a reason… I feel as if transgendered people should be held to the same standard, not to cast doubt to their assigned gender but to allow for a fair and sporting environment.”

Beggs gave no heed to the unfriendly oppositions, and is satisfied enough to be supported by his peers and the administrative staff at his school. He maintains an upbeat personality and unwavering optimism as him and his supporters relinquish in the surrealism of his victory that earned him both the attention of the media and a transgender icon. Breggs now utilizes his popularity to advocate for all transgender athletes.

“I just hope that by speaking out I can help other trans athletes who are struggling coming out to their coaches, I want them to know they aren’t alone,” Beggs said in an interview with Here and Now’s radio journalist, Jeremy Hobson. “[To other trans atheletes] don’t let anyone tell you differently, don’t let anyone steer you from the path that you want to take. Just keep going with what you want to do and don’t let anyone affect that and stop you.”

Beggs will wrestle with girls again next year, with hopes that the UIL will eventually reform their rule. In bringing the controversial LGBQT+ situation to light once more by the media, Bregg’s story serves as another milestone for aspiring and current transgender athletes, proving that victory for all sports contenders of any gender and sexual orientation is an attainable feat.