[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he town of Stratton has a population of less than 700, so at first glance coming from a city in Brazil that has more than 3.7 million people must generate something of a culture shock.
But Stratton High School sophomore Hugo Falco wanted it that way. When given the opportunity to be part of the student exchange program, Falco sought out a smaller town to gain new experiences.
“It’s so different,” said Falco, who comes to Stratton from Recife, located in the northeastern part of Brazil. “I’m still getting used to it but so far I’m really liking it.”
Part of Falco’s desire to come to the United States was also the opportunity to play sports not familiar to most Brazilians, like American football. That’s how he found himself becoming a member of the Stratton/Liberty co-op in 6-man football, playing running back and safety for the Knighted Eagles.
“He picked it up really quick,” Stratton/Liberty coach Toby Kechter said. “He’ll stick his head in there with anybody. He’s tough, he’s not scared.”
Falco is 5-foot-6, 130 pounds, but that hasn’t prevented him from diving into the sport. He loves it so far, and is eager to try baseball for the first time in the spring.
“The exchange program is more to learn new things,” he said. “It’s really good to try different stuff you don’t have back in your country.”
Falco’s varsity experience was limited to a few handoffs in the first two games of the season, though he has played in each of the team’s first two junior varsity games. The Knighted Eagles, the defending state champions in 6-man, were ranked first in the state before falling to No. 2 Arickaree/Woodlin 60-30 on Friday evening.
Kyle Loeffler rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns for Arickaree/Woodlin and Trent Loeffler tossed three touchdown passes.
Stratton/Liberty has been without the services of all-state senior running back and linebacker Kyle English, who will miss the season after injuring his knee in the team’s opener against Idalia. Cordell Burton has filled in nicely in his absence.
“It was disappointing,” Knighted Eagles sophomore Marshall Hornung said of the loss. “But I think we can definitely learn from our mistakes and get a lot better.”
Hornung and his family are serving as the host family for Falco, who arrived on Aug. 17. Marshall said he’s enjoyed having Falco around and his teammates quickly took to him as well, though there has obviously been a learning curve when it comes to teaching Falco the sport.
Falco’s previous experience with American football was limited to watching the NFL, but the 6-man game hasn’t thrown him off much. He said if anything it’s a little simpler and he enjoys it more.
His favorite part of the sport so far? Getting to deliver a hit.
“I was really surprised how well he took to it,” Hornung said. “Somebody who is new to football doesn’t really want to initiate contact, but he’s done really good at running the ball and not being afraid.”
Stratton/Liberty only has 16 players on its squad, and the high school has 87 students, which was an adjustment in itself. But Falco admits the best part about being at the school is getting to know so many new people.
He added that the Hornung family has been great and have helped him out a great deal, and Marshall said that Falco’s personality has been a perfect fit.
The education of a new country goes both ways, though Hornung said it isn’t as different as some might think.
“He’s shown us some of the differences, but he’s also shown us in all reality that isn’t much different than how we live,” he said. “Some aspects are very different and other are just alike.”
