By Collin Bolebruch
Chuck Stone didn’t expect to play college sports. As a sophomore computer science major, Chuck was just looking to get his bachelor’s. When Chuck landed a spot on the Plattsburgh State women’s tennis team, the Cardinals welcomed him with open arms.
Now a year removed from his rookie season, Chuck won’t be allowed to see the court.
“I miss playing a lot,” Chuck said. “I like to watch everyone, but it definitely makes me sad that I can’t go out and play.”
Now that Chuck has begun medically and socially transitioning, he’s stuck in an athletic limbo — able to experience the environment he finds himself comfortable in, yet unable to participate.
Head coach Kelci Henn said Chuck brings positivity and motivation to the team. Teammate Hallie Hurwitz commended him for his loyalty to the program and care for the success of his teammates.
He’s trying his hardest to take this roadblock on the chin.
“But you know, so it goes,” Chuck said. “I knew this would happen.”
Chuck was assigned female at birth, and when he played on the team last year, he still presented himself as a woman. But early on, he felt different from his peers. Chuck said he didn’t understand what it meant to be transgender until middle school.
“You know when you’re young that something’s not quite right,” Chuck said. “But you don’t have the vocabulary to talk about it.”
People around Chuck weren’t likely to understand the conflict he felt, even if he was able to explain it to them. Instead, he took to sports — a space where he found the lines of gender were blurred.
From a young age, Chuck played ice hockey, like many kids in Glens Falls, New York. Unlike most of those kids, Chuck found normalcy in the sport.
“I think there’s a lot of gendered ideas in different hobbies we participate in. I think ice hockey is a good outlet for that,” Chuck said. “It’s one of the only women’s sports that’s full contact. It’s just good to be able to get in a suit of armor and go beat people up.”
Chuck picked up tennis during his first year of high school, and found the same sort of gender disassociation.
“I like to play singles, I’m not a fan of doubles. It’s all on you and in your head. It’s very genderless,” Chuck said. “It doesn’t feel as much like you and your opponent. It’s you and the ball.”
A self-described bench warmer, he didn’t attract any attention from the NCAA. Just like that, when he graduated, he was done — his realm of expression was gone.
That was Chuck’s reality for a year, attending classes at Plattsburgh and meeting new people as someone who wasn’t himself. No one knew he was Chuck.
Chuck found some sanctity in his study, describing its demographic as more “queer” than some may realize. He made some friends, not knowing his break would come within his major.
During his second semester, while studying one morning at Einstein Bros. Bagels, Chuck was approached by a familiar face. Hallie, then a sophomore, introduced herself, recognizing Chuck, a saxophonist, from the jazz band and a few classes they shared.
Hallie told Chuck she played for the Cardinals’ tennis team. When Chuck mentioned his experience, she didn’t hesitate to invite him to practice.
“I was like, ‘We’re looking for people for the tennis team, maybe you should come try out,’” Hallie said. “It was awesome, and he just clicked with everybody.”
Kelci immediately liked Chuck’s scrappiness on the court, a quality she said all the best players have. Off the court, his personality shone.
“I just felt that confidence right out of the gate, and the hustle was unbelievable,” Kelci said. “He really brought another level of energy, another level of motivation and just pure positivity.”
Hallie called him witty, and his friends can always tell when he’s “calculating a joke” in his head.
Chuck spent his first season, fall 2023, practicing and growing close to his teammates. Between team meals, road trips and being there for each other at matches, Chuck found a place and a people he hadn’t had since high school.
During the season, Chuck played in just one game, winning a singles match against VTSU-Johnson on Sept. 28, 2023. Whether he played or not, he was a valuable asset.
“His ability to make another teammate feel better, support another teammate during their match, even if he wasn’t starting, was huge,” Kelci said.
The friendships followed Chuck through the offseason — and to the most important moment of his life. Kelci said she “envies” his ability to form those connections.
After returning from winter break, something felt different to Chuck. After a day of classes, he returned to his dorm and cried. And cried. He needed to live as his true self.
Chuck called his parents and siblings, and spoke to some friends. Now, he needed to talk to his team. He drafted a text and dropped it in a chat with his teammates and coaches.
Then he waited for a reaction.
And waited.
Nothing.
“Everybody just liked the message, and no further discussion,” Chuck said.
Chuck’s teammates adjusted, started using he/him pronouns, and moved on. A few asked clarifying questions, but nothing changed about their bond.
“I’m proud of our team for allowing Chuck to have a space to come out,” Kelci said. “It speaks to the team culture that the girls have really cultivated and made the atmosphere a welcoming one for everyone.”
Chuck started taking testosterone shots, cutting his hair short and wrapping his chest. He’s now on the journey of being who he truly wants to be.
“I was eager to start hormones and feel something was changing,” Chuck said. “I feel like I have so long to go, still.”
Kelci took straight to the books, trying to see how Chuck’s new identity affected his status.
“It’s not fair to the athlete to wait in limbo and put their life on pause,” Kelci said. “I wanted him to be able to live who he is and comfortably.”
There was some confusion and back-and-forth, but ultimately, since Chuck started treatment, he is no longer allowed to compete on a women’s team. Just two weeks away from paperwork due dates, he then worked out with Kelci a way for him to return to the team.
Chuck now serves as equipment and team manager. In the preseason, he set up the locker room reveal and team scavenger hunt. On game days, he fills out the score book, sets up the courts and cheers for his squad.
“He saved my life day-to-day, getting everything ready,” Kelci said.
Chuck’s still there at games, and the Cardinals are happy to see the same, encouraging teammate he always was.
“Seeing him at the matches makes me play better,” Hallie said. “That’s just another person there rooting for us.”
But it’s still difficult for Chuck. Everyone on the team has been inclusive and uplifting, but he still feels “separated.”
“I definitely feel different and out of place, but nobody ever makes me feel that way,” Chuck said. “It’s just like being the black sheep, but everybody treats you totally cool.”
Under NCAA rules, Chuck would be able to compete on a men’s tennis team, but the Cardinals would face challenges in adding a squad.
Plattsburgh State did field a men’s tennis team in the mid-20th century, even producing a school hall-of-famer in Harry J. McManus. The team has likely been defunct since the 70s, according to the athletics department.
To re-establish the program, Plattsburgh would need to meet Title IX standards, allocate money in the department’s budget and find an athletic conference.
In the meantime, Chuck is a member of the co-ed tennis club on campus and likes spending time with his Cardinal teammates.
“I hope I know everybody for a long time,” Chuck said. “I think it’s just a good place to make good friends.”
Kelci said she’s “honored” Chuck chose to remain with the team, and hopes he never stops being himself.
“There’s only one you, only one life to live,” Kelci said. “He chose to advocate for himself, and that’s the best thing you can ever do.”
