A letter to our “Voice of the People” last week asked a few questions and raised a few issues about the News’ coverage of the Bradford football team that I feel compelled to answer.

In her Friday letter headlined “The News Should Have Taken Bradford’s Side,” Amy Corrigan first asked why the News couldn’t have been more positive in its coverage of Bradford’s 35-28 loss to Milwaukee Marquette in a quarterfinal game Nov. 7.

When covering a game, the News’ job is to serve as a mirror and tell a story. If a team wins, the stories, headlines and photographs reflect that. If a team loses, the coverage reflects that. We leave the cheerleading, consoling, backpatting, criticizing, encouraging and the like to the moms, dads, coaches, booster clubs and yearbooks.

That being said, I don’t know how the News could have been any more positive in the aftermath of Bradford’s loss without comprising our integrity or insulting our readers.

“The WIAA Division-1 State championship game will be played on Nov. 20 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison,” News sports writer Andrew Horschak wrote in his story in the Sunday after the contest. “In reality, it may have been held on Saturday night in front of more than 6,000 frenzied fans at Indian Trail Academy.”

Other entries from that story:

“It was a great game. Our kids busted their tails” — Bradford coach Jed Kennedy.

“Bradford is a terrific team. They’re well-coached and they’re young. Their best days are ahead of them.” — Marquette coach Dick Basham.

“We beat a great team tonight.” — Marquette running back John LoCoco.

“A short time later, they applauded their team that fell short of the ultimate prize.” — Horschak observing Bradford fan reaction.

“Bradford is an amazing team.” — Marquette linebacker Marcus Trotter.

In Mike Larsen’s story on the game that was published on the front page, the flowing continued.

Larsen referred to “Bradford’s historic season” and wrote, “The community turned out in force, filling the stadium well before kickoff and flowing around the fence line four fans deep.” In addition, Larsen had ebullient quotes from Bradford Principal Sue Savaglio-Jarvis, former Devil T.J. Williams and a parent.

Prior to claiming that the News “trampled on (the boys) with your words,” Amy asked, “Whose side are you on?”

That’s easy.

The Kenosha News is only on the side of the best story and telling that story as accurately and as thoroughly as possible.

I am not ashamed to say that every time a local team takes the field, I openly root for a good story.

I wish I had a hooded sweatshirt that read, “Good Story” that I could wear to games.

David Marran is sports editor of the Kenosha News. E-mail him at dmarran@kenoshanews.com