UPside of Life: Fight to the finish

As a coach I've come to discover that there isn't a lot you can say following four losses in a row.

You can't simply slap a player on the back and tell them to forget about it--they won't, and it sounds like you're just giving up on them and not caring about the loss. You can yell and scream, either, because there's no point. They feel bad already and know that there were games--like last week against Ewen-Trout Creek--that they should have won.

I've also discovered that winning isn't everything (not that I've ever known much winning, as we lost more than we won during my days as a Wolverine) and that there is no reason why a coach can't be a friend to the players he is teaching and pushing to be their best.

Looking over our team of 16 Mid Peninsula Wolverines, the coaching staff has a lot to be proud of. There are some remarkable young men on the squad this year, and in the face of adversity and the challenge of stepping up and leading no matter what the score is, we've come to find great strength of character and will in places that we may not have necessarily expected it this year.

Take, for example, two of our freshmen players: Brandon Stone and Damian Richmond. At the beginning of the year, we weren't sure where they would fit into the overall scheme. We weren't even sure that they had the determination to get much in the way of playing time. Two weeks ago, they both stepped into stating roles.

Sure, there were some miscues--what can you expect of a freshman starting on varsity? But there were moments of brilliance where the coaching we've put into them truly shined. They had listened! They had actually listened to what we were teaching them and they did it.

Both Stone and Richmond rotated in a ton last week, too. Why? Because they proved their power of will and their desire to be a Wolverine--and because we know they won't quit working, no matter what the score is.

Stone and Richmond are true Wolverines. They wear the orange and white proudly and while they have each earned their fair share of barks from the coaching staff (mainly me--head coach Jeremy Herman and assistant Ron Koski aren't much for growling where I think that's the only tone I have at times), I'm proud to be able to help teach them the ins and outs of the game.

We have a lot of pride on this team. That's what happens when you have 16 Wolverines coming together day in and day out, working not only for themselves, but for the player next to them. Sure, we're 2-4 at this point, but there are three games left and we've got nothing to lose now. No playoffs. No conference title. Nothing but going out and giving our all and making a lot of noise.

It's homecoming this week and this Friday we play Posen (1-5) at home. We're 0-3 against them all-time at Mid Peninsula, including a tough loss on the road last year. The game starts at 7 p.m. at Mid Peninsula High School, followed by a bonfire until midnight. I invite each and every one of you to come to the game. Wear some orange and support the Wolverines.

I can't promise a win, but I'll promise that no matter how many of the players are injured and on the sidelines and no matter how many points are on the board, the Wolverines are going to fight. They know that every game from here on out is going to be a fight to the finish, so they might as well fight until they're finished, right?

Come cheer them on. I suspect it's going to be one heck of a game.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of Upper Peninsula Second Wave and a graduate of Mid Peninsula High School. He coaches the Wolverines along with head coach Jeremy Herman and fellow assistant coach Ron Koski. He can be reached via email.