ST. NICHOLAS — They may be a little short on numbers, but the Mid Peninsula girls are long on experience as they enter this cross country season.

Mid Pen, which opens at Superior Central Saturday, has a turnout of six girls and five boys.

The girls have five returners, including sophomore and reigning Upper Peninsula Division 3 champion Daisy Englund and all-state freshman Landry Koski.

“It’s easy for Daisy and Landry to run,” said coach Mark Branstrom. “All these girls play volleyball and are good athletes. Their parents were good athletes and it kind of runs in the family. It will be exciting to see what happens this season. This is pretty much the same team as last year. My expectations for them are high. It will be up to them to meet the expectations. We’ll take it one meet at a time.”

Also returning are juniors Kennedy Englund, an All-U.P. selection last season, and Cheveney Koski and Camyrn Croasdell. Joining them is freshman Shea Lampinen.

The Wolverines, runners-up to Chassell in last year’s U.P. Finals, come into the season as defending Skyline Central Conference champions.

“Our girls have a chance,” said Branstrom. “It’s up to them. Hopefully, being defending conference champions will motivate them.”

The boys are represented by juniors Zach Englund and Dylan Trudell, sophomore Nick Temple and eighth-graders Mike Englund and Connor Constantino.

“It’s a tough scenario, but we’re fortunate to have the guys we have out,” said Branstrom. “Zach has shown a lot of promise. Nick has a big heart and Dylan is solid. I think we’ll have fun.”

Mid Pen, which has six meets on its schedule, hopes to find a few more.

The schedule:

Sept. 8 — at Superior Central; Sept. 12 — at Manistique; Sept. 25 — at Munising.

Oct. 10 — Skyline Central Conference meet; Oct. 16 — at Norway; Oct. 20 — U.P. Finals at Munising.