West Iron falls to Manistique 52 to 0

By Patrick Browne
When the football season started in August, West Iron’s football coach, Mike Berutti, knew his team was excited to get on the field, reestablish the Wykon tradition and play their hearts out. He also knew it would be a year of learning, a year of growing pains and a year of learning how to handle both victory and defeat. This week the growing pains came from defeat.
The 1 and 1 Wykons coming off a victory against L’Anse lined up against the Manistique Emeralds on Sept. 15. Hoping for a second consecutive victory, the Wykons took the field and gave it their all.
Unfortunately, the game did not go the Wykons way. In a game which saw injuries, crucial turnovers and stalled drives, the Wykons could not gain traction sufficient to score. The Emeralds on the other hand could do no wrong and when the game was finished, Manistique had posted 52 points to West Iron’s 0.
The 52 to 0 Wykon loss to Manistique on Friday, Sept. 15 was a game which the Wykons would sooner forget, but an important step towards competitive football. The greatest learning often takes place in defeat and true athletes are often motivated more by defeat than by victory.
“We continue to play our hearts out,” stated Coach Berutti, ‘The kids come to practice every day excited to get on the field and have not lost their motivation. At times this game is difficult for what it teaches you, but you have to keep going and give it your best.”