Ithaca is a small town between Lansing and Mt Pleasant on US 27 right in the center of mid Michigan. The city itself is made up of all sorts of people including farmers,small business owners, teachers,prison guards and factory workers,etc., just like most small towns. The special thing about this town and these people are their belief of their very own Ithaca Yellowjacket football team. The IHS football team just reeled off it’s 40th straight win and 4th consecutive Regional championship with only one goal in mind and that is to win their 3rd straight division 6 MHSAA State football Championship!
Personally, at the beginning of the year, I wondered to myself…..who is going to lead this years team after winning two State Championships in a row with a 28 game win streak?
Well it is very evident to me, now, that the leadership comes from the top and is carried out through the entire coaching staff,parents,friends, school administration, community and team. Coach Terry Hessbrook has done an absolute phenominal job keeping things in check. One day, one practice,one player,one game and one championship at a time. Terry has lifted up a program,has lifted a school,has lifted a small mid Michigan community to higher grounds! He has not done it by himself but has orchestrated it with a’work first get rewarded later attitude’. Coach Hess(short for Hessbrook), knows himself that you have to have athletes to win, in which he has had alot of over the last 4 years but not only do you have to have athletes, plenty of schools have athletes, but they have to believe in themselves and their coaches and the system!!
Coach Hess, my friend and former classmate and teammate, keep doing what your doing and you will keep getting what you deserve!! Do what we do and 41 should be this weeks focus and congrats from a great friend and fan!!
Randy Miniard
owner/publisher
Mid Michigan Sports Scene
Ithaca graduate
class of 1985