Air Force graduate John Kopecky (’02) found himself at the center of an unexpected controversy during a recent volleyball match between the Air Force Academy and San Jose State. Kopecky, who regularly attends games to support his alma mater, was surprised when he was asked to remove a shirt bearing the message “Keep Women’s Sports Female” before entering the venue.
In an exclusive interview, Kopecky detailed his experience, noting that he had worn the same shirt to a game just days earlier without incident. “On Thursday, there were no issues with the shirt. Nobody was checking,” he explained.
However, the atmosphere changed dramatically for the subsequent match. Kopecky described an unusual level of scrutiny upon arrival, with security personnel asking him to unzip his hoodie for inspection – a practice he had never encountered in his years of attending games.
“I’ve never had them try to see what I was wearing underneath before,” Kopecky remarked, highlighting the departure from standard entry procedures.
Once inside, Kopecky sensed he was under close observation. He reported seeing security personnel pointing him out to high-ranking officials, including the superintendent and commandant. “I could kind of see out of the corner of my eye they were pointing to where I was sitting,” he said.
The incident raises questions about free speech and dress codes at sporting events, particularly those featuring trans players.
This comes just after a teammate of Blair Flemming came forward.
Brooke Slusser, co-captain of the San Jose State women’s volleyball team, recently voiced her concerns about the inclusion of a trans player, Blair, on her team during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show.
Slusser described the significant physical differences between Blair and the other female athletes, pointing out Blair’s higher jumps, stronger spikes, and dominant presence on the court. She recounted an incident where Blair spiked the ball into an opponent’s face, causing visible injury, and expressed safety concerns for herself and her teammates, particularly during practice. Slusser highlighted the emotional toll of the situation, noting that instead of focusing on volleyball, much of the team’s energy has been directed toward handling the controversy.
Despite initial pressure to stay silent, Slusser has joined a lawsuit against the university, aiming to prevent future athletes from facing similar issues and criticizing school administrators for prioritizing Blair’s participation over the safety and well-being of the rest of the team.
