IRON RIVER—West Iron’s football team struggled all night at Northland Pines Oct. 5.
After falling behind 10-0 almost immediately, the Wykons had to cope with poor field position throughout the first half and a battering ram on the other team—star running back Austin Ramesh—as they fell to the unbeaten Eagles 46-6.
The loss drops West Iron’s record to 3-4 overall, 2-3 in West Pac Conference play. No playoffs for the Wykons this fall.

Working from the back row, Lexi Gussert bumps the ball forward against North Dickinson on Oct. 2. Teammates nearby, from left, are Samantha Nylund, Maria Stankewicz (6), Mindy DeNell and Mary Grandahl (11).
CRYSTAL FALLS—Slump? Forest Park volleyball? Really?
That’s what Coach Kim Bjork suspects after the Lady Trojans’ back-to-back Skyline Conference matches early last week. Forest Park won both of them 3-0, as usual, but the girls aren’t looking as sharp as their coach wants them to be.

With plenty of Nordics in pursuit, Forest Park’s Brett Hietala turns upfield after catching a pass from QB Jeff Johnson (18, far right).
FELCH—This just in: North Dickinson’s football team is really, really good.
 The Nordics were more than ready for Forest Park’s visit on Homecoming night here Sept. 28. They struck for three early touchdowns, gained 516 yards on offense (with two backs totaling 390 yards by themselves) and flattened the Trojans 55-27.

Forest Park’s Maria Stankewicz runs off the court to keep  a deflected West Iron shot in play during the teams’ match Sept. 25.
IRON RIVER—It may have been a 3-0 win over the cross-county rival, but Forest Park Coach Kim Bjork didn’t sound very pleased with her team’s win over West Iron Sept. 25.
 She was happy her team won, of course—the scores were 25-14, 25-17, 26-24—but she didn’t care for how her team played or that West Iron was coming on strong towards the end.

IRON RIVER—The ranks are thinning for West Iron’s football team again.
 It’s happened before for Coach Mike Berutti’s team, and it happened again Sept. 28: Only 16 players were able to suit up for their game at Calumet Sept. 28, and only 13 were available for a while during the second half --the 11 on the field and two substitutes.
 Calumet earned a 38-8 win, scoring three times in the second quarter. The Wykons’ record falls to 3-3 overall and 2-2 in West Pac Conference play.
 “That’s not to make an excuse,” Berutti noted. “We had enough bodies and enough people.”

IRON RIVER—West Iron’s girls tennis team really didn’t need a one-week break just before the end-of-season tournaments.
 But Mother Nature thought otherwise, and the Wykons’ entire schedule—even practices—got wiped out for a full week, due to an early round of cold, damp, windy weather.
 The Wykons finally got back on the court Sept. 24, losing to Kingsford 7-1 before taking part in the Great Northern Conference tournament Sept. 26.

Clearing the path for running back Alec Schmelebeck are (from left) Wykons Andy Ridolphi, Gabe Golfis and Joe Pisoni during third quarter play in West Iron’s 26-0 Homecoming win over Houghton Sept. 22.
IRON RIVER—Two early scoring drives got West Iron on the right track before the Homecoming crowd Sept. 22, and the Wykons kept going from there, shutting out Houghton 26-0.
 The win boosts WIC’s  season record to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the West Pac.

How low can she go? Forest Park’s Mindy DeNell gets down plenty low to dig out a Rapid River shot during their match Sept. 17. In back is Gina Graff.
CRYSTAL FALLS—Forest Park’s volleyball team completed one of the busiest parts of its schedule on Sept. 17. In seven days, the Lady Trojans played three dual matches plus the Forest Park Invitational.
 The finale against Rapid River Sept. 17 at home wound up the way all the other ones did—with a Lady Trojan 3-0 victory (25-13, 25-23, 25-15).

Derek Aberly’s pulls down Jeff Johnson’s pass for a 26-yard gain in the first quarter against North Central. Defending is Rob Granquist. The play led to the Trojans’ third TD.
CRYSTAL FALLS—Scoring on its first four possessions, Forest Park had few problems defeating North Central 49-14 here Sept. 21. The Jets’ only touchdowns came on a pair of long passes in the second quarter.

Cassilyn Pellizzer sends a shot into the Hancock end during West Iron’s 3-0 win on Sept. 18. Nearby are Amy Richardson, Abby Grubbs (11), Megan Eagloski and Kim Spigarelli.
IRON RIVER—West Iron’s volleyball team had its best day of the early season Sept. 18, defeating Hancock 3-0. The scores were 25-22. 25-18 and 25-21.