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Sports
By Patrick Browne
IRON RIVER — The West Iron Lady Wykons track program, under the leadership of Kristi Berutti and anchored by a once-in-a-generation athlete, Danica Shamion, finished their season June 1 with four first-place finishes, two second-place finishes and three third-place finishes. The Wykons finished second in Division 2, beating out nine teams and falling short only to Bark River Harris.
“It was a season that took a lot of hard work to get where we ended,” Berutti said.
While the day was one for the record books for Shamion, a graduating senior, the team had 11 qualifying girls for the championships. The qualifiers covered 13 of 17 events and positioned West Iron for a run at the title. With so many athletes meeting qualifying standards, the day was one of anticipation and the girls did not disappoint. When the meet concluded, the Wykons finished with five personal records and 14 medals.
Seanna Stine finished second in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300-meter hurdles while also contributing to outstanding performances in the 4-by-200 and 4-by-100 relays, in which she came in second and third respectively.
Rowyn Fiszer earned five points for her team as she ran a season best in the 100-meter hurdles (finishing fourth overall) and sixth in the 100-meter dash. Fiszer also contributed to the team’s third-place finish in the 4-by-100-meter relay.
Eiley Meske finished third in the pole vault, while Lilyanna DeSousa finished sixth in the 400-meter dash, and Laycee Parson came in sixth in the 200-meter dash and contributed to the 4-by-100 and 4-by-200 relays.
While the team results are clear evidence the program is in great hands and has a strong future, the final meet for senior standout Danica Shamion was one which will be discussed for years to come.
Shamion, who throughout her four years at West Iron has set and broken more of her own records than most athletes can dream of, saved her best performance for the last meet.
“Danica broke her own U.P. records in the 200 and 400 and broke her own 200 and 400 school records a week ago,” said an impressed Berutti. “She also broke the 1974 high-jump record by clearing five feet five inches.”
Highlights of the day included Shamion earning first place in four events: the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, and the high jump. Shamion set a new Division 2 U.P. record in the 200-meter dash as she beat her previous record time of 26.34 and covered the distance in 26.17 seconds. In addition to that amazing performance, she followed up by setting a record in the 400.
By earning four first place medals, she placed herself in an elite group of only nine athletes who have won four individual events at the Track and Field Finals. Her 2024 performance and accrual of 40 points (10 points for a first-place finish), would have seen her single-handedly beating five of the 11 schools at the meet, including Iron Mountain and Munising.
“I’m happy for how the season went and how the team did,” Shamion said. “I was extremely blessed to have so many people motivating me and to have a wonderful coach. My family was always there cheering me on.”
Coach Berutti has one eye on the day’s accomplishments and the other on the promise of another year.
“I couldn’t be more proud and I’m excited to see what the incoming freshmen girls bring us,” she said.
In addition, boys track Tanner Nordstrom secured seven points for the team by placing third in the discus and fourth in the shot put.