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70 GU I D E to Y E L L OW S P R I NG S | 2O22 – 2O23 Women’s Law Fund, sued OSHAA and won the case in 1977. OSHAA appealed unsuccessfully in 1981, but Shelly and Leah Wing — by then a sophomore in col- lege — were disappointed because a technicality about jurisdiction won the appeal. The original point of the suit, allowing girls and women equal athletic opportunities, was essentially “skirted.” Which brings us back to why these two girls tried out for the team in the first place: They wanted to play the same games with the same rules as their male peers. Although seventh-graders may not have known and we didn’t have studies to cite back then, competition and athletics provide valuable life lessons unlike anything in the classroom. Sport provides a level playing field for girls and women to be valued for their strengths and efforts for “what they do” rather than arbitrary school popularity and appearances or “how they look.” Research affirms women who engaged in moderate and consistent physical activ - ity and sports during their adolescence fare far better in many measures of health and well-being and gain advantage in work settings. Title IX and its effect on school athletics has as many critics as supporters, but undeniably, it has brought positive changes for many girls and women. The percentage of girls’ participation in sports, the number and amount of scholarships to college for women and the proportion of women earning formerly male-dominated degrees have all increased dramatically since 1972. Yet we’re still struggling to have equal opportunities for girls in school athletics even here in a liberal and progres- sive community. In the 1990s our school board cut funding for girls’ sports but not boys’ to cope with a beleaguered athletic budget. As recently as 2006, the area soccer league MVYSA prohibited two local girls from playing on a boys’ middle school-aged team after we couldn’t field a girls-only team for their age group. Incidentally, the girls weren’t barred until their second year on the team after they’d shown they could compete well with the boys — like Ms. Pepe’s pitching — and then complaints were lodged. So, we may have come a long way, but fights for rights must go on, as with all issues on equality. Although they didn’t get any playing time that season and the case may have had a technical foul, they scored points for a huge team of girls and women. Thank you, Leah and Shelly Wing and Amy Underwood, for being local champions in a truly important game. You three, Maria Pepe and all the folks who say “let girls play” are on my personal All-Star Team. ♦ YellowSpringsProperties.com 4486 Indian Ripple Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45440 Sam Eckenrode Lic #SAL.2004018652 937 . 470 . 1867 Senior Sales Associate CBH International Diamond Society Yellow Springs resident Realtor ® with 18 years sales experience. Locally based, globally connected— let our connections work for you! 937-322-8117  1125 N. Bechtle Ave, Springfield  www.BoxKingShipping.com  Full service design and print shop  We can pack anything and ship anywhere!  Shipping by FedEX, UPS & USPS  The Biggest Ohio State Buckeyes Gift Shop West of Columbus!