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Sports
By Patrick Browne
On a rain filled cloudy day with temperatures low enough to nudge most high schoolers towards heading home and relaxing on the couch, West Iron’s Tanner Nordstrom refused to let the conditions dampen his efforts to bring a positive ending to what has been a challenging year for the boys track team.
With too few athletes, Coach Jeff Taff, worked hard with his team this season. He stayed positive and went into Regionals knowing the Wykons would not be competing for top honors, but could give it their all to earn points. In an effort to salvage some positive regard for the school and build towards a better tomorrow, the Wykons showed up at the Regional meet with the gritty determination that is the hallmark of Iron River and its environs.
West Iron’s best hope for points was sophomore Tanner Nordstrom and he did not disappoint. Nordstrom defended West Iron’s honor by scoring three points. The three points kept the Wykons from being shut out and allowed the team to finish on a positive note.
Nordstrom was able to pull out a third place in discus and earn two points with a throw of 90 feet 9 inches. Both competitors who finished ahead of him are seniors and make Tanner the odds on favorite to win the discus in his junior year.
In the shot put, Nordstrom threw for 39 feet two inches, finishing just inches behind third place and earning one point.
“After not being able to practice all week leading up to Regionals, Tanner was able to pull out a third and fourth place finish,” his Coach Taff stated. “The downpour of rain and cold made throwing conditions extremely difficult. Two of the three final round discus throws slipped off his hand on the release and slammed against the throwing cage.”
Tanner, a uniquely wonderful young man who exemplifies a can do, get it done personality, reflected on his performance and the season. “It’s a tough process, but I love throwing. I get to miss some school to throw heavy stuff with people who are sometimes strange, but very similar to me,” he shared.
In the Regional meet fellow Wykon Christian Robles gave it his best and set a personal record of fifteen feet ten and one half inches in the long jump. His fifth place finish did not earn points for the team. Zac Tape and Noah Perlongo finished in sixth and seventh place in the 1600 meter run, but also did not earn points.
Tanner followed up his Regional performance by finishing in third place in the discus and fourth place in the shot put at the Conference meet on May 22.