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Ê MANCELONA - Every athlete holds memories of past failures, moments when the mind was willing but the other guy had stronger muscles. These are the memories brought out of hiding as football players enter the weight room during their summer vacation, when power cleans and squats sound as appealing as a helmet to the stomach.

Through the halls of Mancelona High School, sounds of muscle being torn down and rebuilt can be heard three days a week as Ironmen football draws on the memories of last year's 8-3 season in preparation for this fall.

Under the leadership of Dan Derrer, now entering his third year as head varsity coach at Mancelona, the Ironmen are in the hunt for a Ski Valley Conference Championship after tying Central Lake last season.

"Our goal is to win the conference," Derrer said plainly in an interview with Antrim County News last week. "We should be very competitive."

Carried on the shoulder pads of senior quarterback Greg Blanco and fullback Kodi Balhorn, who may play tight end during his senior year, Mancelona will contend with conference stronghold Central Lake, who appears to return a solid team.

According to Derrer, Forest Area may prove difficult to knock down as well since the Warriors returning more starting players than anyone in the league.

Missing from beneath a rack of weights at Mancelona this summer is Adam Duerksen, who graduated in June, leaving Derrer with a very speedy hole to fill in the offense.

But the most demanding task at hand may be replacing an entire offensive line, now graduated. Looking to a team with depth, Mancelona's coach did not sound worried about filling the holes with younger talent.

As official practice is set to kick off Aug. 11, Derrer said the first three days will be non-padded, which may translate into pain for those athletes challenged by extensive running.

"We want them to be out running," Derrer said. "It's huge to be in shape when football starts."

Pads will come after days of drills, conditioning and fine tuning defensive assignments, he said.

When the Ironmen do begin hitting at practice during the second week's double sessions, hours of summer lifting in the weight room will prove priceless for some and painful for others.

Attributing preseason scrimmage as a vital tool in preparation, Derrer looks forward to tackling teams such as Charlevoix, Houghton Lake and Frankfort. Each Friday scrimmage allows 20 plays on offense and 20 on defense.

Hoping his third season with the Ironmen will last a little longer than last year, Derrer remembers the sweet taste of putting away Rogers City in the Mancelona's first playoff win ever.

Ê "There has been good support from parents and the community," he said. "And that really helps."