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GLADSTONE -- Optimism is brewing here as the Gladstone Braves open their cross country season.
Gladstone, opening in today's Marquette Early Bird Invitational at Presque Isle Park, has many returners among its 12 boys and nine girls.
This will be the first competitive running event since last fall for the Braves.
Gladstone, like other schools statewide, was unable to field a track team this spring due to the COVID-19 virus.
"We have to limit all races to 70 runners (according to Michigan High School Athletic Association rules)," said Gary Whitmer, who's entering his 17th season as Braves head coach. "The kids will be required to wear a mask until competition, which will make people more cautious and mindful of others."
The boys return a pair of Division 1 all-state harriers in junior Gio Mathews and sophomore Drew Hughes, also All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team selections last fall.
Additional returners are seniors Bryce LaMarche and Blake Krouth and juniors Andrew Brackett and William Olsick.
"I think we have six guys who will be in the 18s (for 3.1 miles)," said Whitmer. "This is the deepest team I've had. We have a lot of talent, including two all-staters on this team. The guys are in pretty good shape."
Newcomers include seniors Lucas Hughes (Drew's brother), Wyatt Madden and Ryan Polley and junior Sasha Olsen and freshman Eli Berthaume.
"Right now, Lucas is probably in our third spot and Wyatt could be our fourth guy," said Whitmer. "Blake has been running a lot more and it looks like Sasha will come out when school starts."
The girls are led by newcomers Ahna Larson (senior) and Jadyn Bovin (junior), who are also playing volleyball this fall. They are followed by junior returners Sam Strasler, Lilly Karl and Jamisyn Bergeron and freshman Kayla Farnes.
"Ahna and Jadyn are nice additions to our team, and Sam, Lilly, Jamisyn and Kayla could be vying for the third spot," said Whitmer. "Cross country always gets a good bunch of kids. The girls have been running all summer and should be competitive. We have more depth than we've had in a while. They've been around each other all summer and no one got sick (due to the virus)."
Also returning are senior Lydia Tembruell and junior Aleyna Wetthuhn. Joining them is senior Linsday Cox, a transfer from New York state, whose parents are originally from Bark River.
Gladstone, which ran its home meets at Beauchamp's Grove for several years, will be hosting at Richer's farmhouse near the Flat Rock Township Hall.
"It's a nice course, similar to Beauchamp's," said Whitmer.
This year's U.P. Finals are expected to take place at three different sites with D-1 at Marquette, with Westwood or West Iron County hosting D-2 and Munising hosting D-3.
"The plan is to keep them separate, although I think they'll be able to run them at one site if it's safe," said Whitmer.
The schedule:
Aug. 28 -- at Marquette.
Sept. 15 -- at Kingsford (Iron Mountain); Sept. 26 -- at Escanaba; Sept. 29 -- at Munising.
Oct. 8 -- Gladstone Invitational at Flat Rock; Oct. 15 -- GNC meet at Marquette; Oct. 24 -- U.P. D-1 Finals at Marquette.