PREPS

PREPS

Ursuline and Mooney deserve better

I am writing this letter in response to Neil D. Frasca’s comments in The Vindicator (“OHSAA rules take a fan hit”).

Let me begin by saying I am a 2008 graduate of Ursuline High School and a part of the third generation of my family to attend the school. In my senior year of high school, I was blessed to be able to play in the Division V state championship game against Maria Stein Marion Local, a public school from western Ohio. This battle featured the two best teams in Division V leaving it all out on the field, and when the final second ticked off the clock, Maria Stein Marion Local defeated us 20-14.

That same year, the Coldwater Cavaliers, of the same conference as Marion Local, defeated Cardinal Mooney 28-27. In one weekend, two public schools defeated two private schools to win state titles, something far too many people locally believe is impossible.

In his letter, Neil D. Frasca commented on how football players can live in different communities in our area and still attend Ursuline or Cardinal Mooney.

I have lived in Austintown my entire life. I attended Catholic grade school here as well, and my parents made the sacrifice of sending me through Ursuline.

I do not care if a student lives in Youngstown, Girard, or Canfield; if their parents are able to make the sacrifice of sending their child to Ursuline or Mooney, then they should be able to play sports there as well.

Let there be no doubt, there is nothing questionable about the tuition of Ursuline or Mooney, it is a major financial sacrifice for every parent that has to pay. For those that may not be able to afford Ursuline or Mooney, there are scholarships and vouchers available to defray the costs of tuition partially, or in some cases entirely.

Of course, people love to call this recruiting, but I would love to know how this is any different from the open-enrollment policies at many public high schools throughout the Mahoning Valley and all of Ohio?

All I ask is that everyone in our area be supportive and proud of the local teams that represent us in Canton and Massillon every fall in the state finals, whether they be public or private.

Our area has had a rough time over the last few decades, but we can at least be proud of the hard work and dedication of the student-athletes that look to bring the state title back to our area each and every year.

Enough with the constant grumblings about the public and private debate, just support every team from the Mahoning Valley like you would want your team to be supported.

Michael Metzinger

Austintown