Participants and coaches gather to celebrate the 1st Annual Copper Country Youth Football Camp at Agassiz Field in Calumet. The coaches included Josh Frantti, Frank Bonacorsi, Tyler Rautio, Tyler Loukus, Andy Krause and Tony Salani from Calumet, along with Dan Pertile from Houghton, Jeff Hauswirth from Hancock, and others. (Provided photo)

CALUMET — In early July, coach Josh Frantti and the Calumet Copper Kings football program hosted the 1st Annual Copper Country Youth Football Camp. The camp was for players entering third through eighth grade, and the numbers were outstanding, according to organizers. Of the 115 children registered, 114 made the trek to Agassiz Field for the camp.

In the brochure for the camp, the intentions of the camp were made clear.

“This will be the first year of the Copper Country Youth Football Camp,” it said. “We are looking to reach our local youth and get them engaged and excited about football in the Copper Country.”

With nearly every child who signed up making it to the camp, that goal was reached.

The camp ran Tuesday, July 9, and Wednesday, July 10, with a set of warmup drills to start each day, followed by agility stations, and later stations to work on more specific areas of the game, with a scrimmage to follow to close out each day.

The intention of the camp, beyond getting kids excited about the game, also included, “providing each player an opportunity to learn fundamental skills from top coaches in the Copper Country. Players will be taught fundamental skills involved with offense, defense, and different aspects of the kicking game.”

Frantti and the Calumet coaching staff, including Tony Salani, Frank Bonacorsi, Tyler Loukus, Andy Krause, and Tyler Rautio were joined by Jeff Hauswirth from Hancock and Dan Pertile from Houghton, along with other area coaches. There were others who could not attend, such as Steve Parks, but they hope to be able to in future camps. All nine coaches made an impact on each athlete’s experience throughout the camp.

Along with the two days of instruction, participants received “a head start on becoming a champion football player” and a camp t-shirt.