Elms Just Write Team Competes at State Tournament

Our Lady of the Elms School’s Just Write team of state qualifiers began their journey to Bluffton University bright and early at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, ready for a full day of creativity, competition, and storytelling.

The 2026 Just Write State Tournament brought together more than 400 high school writers from across Ohio and Michigan for a day-long creative writing competition and literacy event. Students competed in three timed rounds of creative narrative writing, responding to assigned prompts and genres while crafting original stories under pressure.

Throughout the day, Elms students demonstrated focus, imagination, and determination as they put their writing skills to the test alongside talented student writers from across the region. In addition to the competition rounds, students participated in afternoon workshops and heard from keynote author Mindy McGinnis, an Edgar Award-winning young adult author. The state tournament also featured Siaara Freeman, poet laureate for Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

After a long and rewarding day, the team returned to Akron tired but proud, knowing they had written strong stories and represented the Elms well.

Congratulations to our Just Write state qualifiers on this outstanding accomplishment. We are proud of their creativity, perseverance, and commitment to developing their voices as writers.