MANISTIQUE — Optimism is brewing at Manistique as its boys’ track, and field numbers have shown a sharp increase from a year ago.

The Emeralds have 30 on their team, which nearly doubles last year’s turnout.

“I think I have a pretty good rapport with these athletes,” said coach Cody Kangas. “Quite a few are doing double duty with baseball and golf. We have some experience and a lot of new faces. I think we’ll be all right this year. We have at least one person who can compete in each event.”

Manistique travels to Sault Ste. Marie for its opener, which takes place indoors Friday at 2 p.m. at Lake Superior State University.

The Emeralds are returning to Division 2 after competing in D-1 a year ago.

“This is a big difference from D-1,” said Kangas. “We’ll be running with programs that are similar to ours.”

Junior middle distance runner Grant Mason and sophomore sprinter Wyatt Demers were last year’s top point-getters.

Also among last season’s leaders were seniors Alex Lafayette (mid distance) and Jude Way (high jump and long jump), junior Elmer Zellar (high jump and shot put) and sophomore Austin Hinkson, who’s recovering from shoulder surgery.

“Grant and Wyatt will be running four events,” said Kangas. “Alex came on strong in the mid distances toward the end of last year, and we’re looking for him to take a step forward.

“Wyatt is probably our best 400 (meter) runner at the moment and Elmer will be our leader in the field events.”

Other senior hopefuls are Blake Espinoza and McKabe Swanson (weight events), J.T. Maki (distances), Nathan Peterson (weight events and open 3200) and Devin Hicks (800 and pole vault).

Additional juniors include Carter Miller, Tyler DeVries, Dillon Hayes, Jesse Korva and Nick Thayer (sprints), Alex Ziemba (distances) and Koby Petrich and Zach King (middle distances).

“It seems like this group (juniors) is pretty big into sprints,” said Kangas. “I think our team is pretty well-rounded.

“Last year we didn’t have many sprinters. The middle distances are probably our main strength.”

After their opener, the Emeralds will be heading downstate for the Ram Scram at Harbor Springs (April 15) and Mancelona Invitational (April 22).

“I think going downstate will help us,” said Kangas. “We’ll be able to get on a track two weeks earlier.”

Kangas points to Westwood and Negaunee as the teams to beat in the Mid-Peninsula Conference.

“The M-PC is always a tough conference,” he said. “Westwood and Negaunee always have a lot of sprinters. They’ll be real strong teams in my eyes, and Ishpeming and Iron Mountain have good distance people.”

The schedule:

April 8 — Sault Ste. Marie Indoor Invitational (LSSU); April 15 — Harbor Springs Ram Scram; April 22 — Mancelona Invitational; April 29 — Manistique Kiwanis Invitational.

May 5 — St. Ignace Invitational; May 7 — Manistique Emerald Invitational; May 13 — Munising Lions Invitational; May 17 — Newberry Invitational; May 20 — D-2 regional at Gwinn; May 23 — Mid-Peninsula Conference at Ishpeming; May 26 — at Munising.

June 4 — U.P. Finals at Kingsford.