There was a time when a girl in high school couldn't wear pants or take shop classes. The world has changed a lot since then, but there's still plenty of gender lines that don't often get crossed.

When they do, we can't help but celebrate it. Shelby Mattin proved to readers this year that there's a place for women on the football field aside from the cheerleading lineup. As a member of NWSS's Hyacks football team, Mattin has spent the last five years training and working in a male-dominated sport, coming up against opponents (and, in the early days, teammates) who dismissed her simply for her gender. thanks to her inspiration, we have no doubt that her trailblazing has made an impact on her fellow students, many of whom - male and female - may reconsider interests they otherwise would have considered off-limits.