The Youngstown Press Club sponsored a Scholastic Journalism Contest which included entries from Pennsylvania and Ohio. The judges faced a daunting task this year. The entries displayed a quality of work that made the selection process incredibly difficult. Congratulations to Sharpsville's very own freshman, Layla Colich, for winning Honorable Mention in the Editorial/Column/Opinion Piece for her piece entitled, "Equality for All."  Layla wrote about her journey as a girl wrestler and how far the sport of wrestling has come for girls.  Below is the listing of winners for this category followed by Layla's editorial.

Editorial / Column / Opinion Piece

1st Place – Wesley Jones, Struthers High School

2nd Place – Aiden Crum, Salem High School

3rd Place – Harper Liller, Boardman High School

Honorable Mention – Layla Colich, Sharpsville High School

Honorable Mention – Madelyn Hanna, Struthers High School

Honorable Mention – Leah Markotan, Struthers High School

 "Equality for All"

The United States was founded on the principle that all are created equal, yet history reveals a different reality for women. Today, I show my love for this country by challenging those inequalities head-on, pushing boundaries, and proving that equality isn’t just a promise, but a goal worth striving for, all in a sport where my presence redefines what it means to be both a woman and an American.

Turning to the first aspect, I am patriotic because not only was I one of the first girl wrestlers at Sharpsville, I also helped girl wrestling grow as a sport. There were many challenges I had to face when I first began wrestling 8 years ago. Girls had to wear hair caps because their hair was “too long and would get in the way,” this came off as very challenging causing kids to pull the caps over our faces, making it strenuous for us to see. We also had to wear singlets that were way too low cut for us girls, but that was the only type of singlets the boys wore. A lot of girls ended up having to wear shirts under which can be very uncomfortable and get in the way. Those are just some of the challenges that girls had to face.

Expanding on this idea, there was a lot of stereotypical judgment in the beginning. We would constantly hear whispers wondering why girls were able to wrestle and how we should be doing something more “girly”. Boys would try to hurt us if we were doing even a little good in a match, the coaches would even urge the boys to do even more harmful things while going up against a girl. They thought all of this hatred and discrimination would stop the girls from doing a sport they loved, but it actually pushed us harder to try and grow women's wrestling all around, so it would be more equal, fun, and inclusive. We wanted to show America and even the whole world that no matter what someone has to say against us that it won't stop us, and we just get stronger after each hateful comment is said.

Equally as important, going through all of the judgment, hatred, and stereotypes, I have learned a lot. It all taught me that do what you love and don’t let anyone ruin it for you no matter how hard it gets because there will always be a positive outcome in the end. It made me want to pursue my dream of being a college wrestler even more than before. It also helped me build a girls team at Sharpsville with all of my encouragement and positivity. I've learned that no matter what we have to fight for women's rights because there will always be someone who thinks women shouldn’t do the things they love and say that we only belong here for one reason. In the end, pursue your passions, regardless of societal expectations, thus strengthening the nation.

In essence, my journey in this sport reflects a deeper belief in the potential of women and the importance of equal opportunity. Let us continue to challenge gender stereotypes and create a society where every individual, regardless of gender, can pursue their dreams and contribute to the betterment of our nation. Patriotism, in this context, is about fighting for a future where equality is not just an ideal, but a reality for all.