RAPID RIVER — After winning their opener, the Rapid River boys are ready to get on with the rest of their track season.

The Rockets edged Stephenson by three points in a quadrangular meet at Menominee Thursday, then placed third in Tuesday’s Delta County Invitational.

“Escanaba was shorthanded, and Menominee had just three kids, which didn’t give us a good look at those teams,” said coach Steve Ostrenga. “Every school has kids walking through their hallways who should be out for track. COVID has a lot to do with that. There’s a lot of different protocols going on, which makes it tough.”

The Rockets, who resume in Friday’s Stephenson Lions Invitational, have seven seniors among their 26 track athletes.

Senior returners include Parker Dausey in the weight events, Griffin Flath (sprints), Ishmael Hernandez (middle distance), Max Lenaker (high jump and mid distance), Ben Lenaker (long jump and mid distance) and Bryce Lundquist (shot put and sprints). Joining them is newcomer Connor Taylor in the sprints.

“All of them are going to be quite valuable,” said Ostrenga. “Parker, Griffin and Ishmael bust their tails in the weight room, and Max and Ben are very athletic.

Junior Logan Lancour won pole vault in Menominee at 10 feet and joins classmate Rease Dawley in the sprints.

Other juniors include Jaiden McCarty (distances), Jace Holmio and newcomer Karson Hardwick (mid distance), Mason Lippold (sprints and weight events) and Soren Gustafson, Corey Novak and cousins Joey and Damyn Smith (weight events).

“Joey and Damyn are working hard on their technique,” said Ostrenga. “Karson worked hard all winter in the weight room. He’s really improving.”

Sophomore hopefuls are Jonah Frizzell, a transfer from Gladstone (sprints and mid distance), Bryson Belongia (sprints), Austin Rafuse and newcomer Charley Hickman (weight events) and newcomer Eric Lutz (mid distance).

“Charley has good technique,” said Ostrenga. “He just has to keep improving. Jonah works hard. He’ll do anything you ask.”

Freshmen are Brad Taylor (sprints), Evan Horwitz (sprints and mid distance), Nate Moore (distance) and Blake Lundquist (mid distance and sprints).

“Track is a great activity in preparation for other sports,” said Ostrenga. “You have to work hard as you do in any other sport. You have to put the time in which lends to work in the weight room, and I think our kids epitomize that.”

The Rapid River girls, who finished fourth in Menominee and third in the Delta County meet, have 14 on their team.

“We performed about as well as I expected,” said coach Greg Rubick. “Menominee has a real nice team. They have some good speed and a good distance runner (senior Hayden Buck).

“We’re pretty spread evenly out among our four classes. This is obviously an odd year. After a year away from track, it’s hard to get the kids back into the spirit. It’s hard to get people up and moving again.”

Seniors include Mya Pearson and Morgan Anderson (weight events), Kathy Hickman (pole vault) and Taylor Van Oss (distances).

“Mya and Morgan are going to be big pieces of the puzzle,” said Rubick. “They’re throwing well. I would like to see Taylor run the big four. She’s a true distance runner who runs the year around.”

Junior returners are Addie Christoff (sprints and pole vault) and Gabby Moss (sprints and long jump).

Underclassmen include sophomores Monica Thibault (hurdles and/or sprints), Megan Dausey and Lexie Van Oss (mid distance), and freshmen Ava McCarty (relay specialist) and Aiyana Semear (sprints).

“These girls allow us to put relays together,” said Rubick. “We can put Megan where we need her. She can also do sprints if needed.”

Other newcomers are junior Madi Porter (mid distance), sophomore Creighton Smith (long jump) and freshman Karmyn Schwartz (sprints).

“Our seniors should have quite a bit of success,” said Rubick. “I think the strength of our team is the speed relays. One thing about track is you never have too many people. We’ve been fortunate enough to not lose any athletes to quarantine through the last three weeks. None have tested positive, knock on wood.”

The remaining schedule:

April 30 — Stephenson Invitational.

May 6 — Rapid River Invitational; May 14 — Munising Invitational; May 20 — D-3 regional; May 25 — Skyline Central Conference at Munising.

June 5 — U.P. Finals at Kingsford.