ESCANABA — A slightly larger turnout has the Escanaba gymnasts feeling optimistic about their fortunes this season.

The Eskymos, who have 13 on their roster, opened in Saturday’s Huron Valley United Invitational at downstate White Lake Lakeland.

“That’s a solid number,” coach Theresa Pascoe said. “That also gives us some depth. We have only one who’s new to gymnastics. That was a fun meet with no team scores. It was just a meet to break the ice. We could still get qualifying scores for regionals, but it wasn’t the end of the world if we didn’t get those scores there.”

Esky resumes Dec. 7 when it hosts the Elks Invitational with Bark River-Harris furnishing the competition.

“They’re doing co-op with Gladstone, Holy Name, North Central, Carney-Nadeau and Iron Mountain,” Pascoe said. “They’re going to have a strong team. They’re going to give us a run for our money.”

Esky returns seven from a year ago, including seniors Sophie Lehto and Victoria Mantela in all-around.

“Sophie is hindered by an ankle injury from volleyball,” Pascoe said. “She said front tumbling doesn’t hurt the ankle, but back tumbling is painful. Victoria is working on her skills and putting her routines together. Her strong event is vault.”

Junior returners are Hailee Cloutier and Hayden Turchin in all-around.

“Hailee is working to get stronger on beam by adding more difficulty,” Pascoe said. “On beam, her routine is mostly going to be jumps. She’s struggling with tumbling, although she has good execution. Hayden suffered a high ankle sprain on the opening day of practice, but got the okay from the doctor to compete in the first meet.”

Also returning in all-around are sophomores Sophie Hill and Lola Saari, with Hannah Belongie on balance beam and floor exercise.

“Sophie worked very hard during the summer to correct her form,” Pascoe said. “She has the skill. She’s very talented and skilled on floor. Only, she needs to work on form. Lola is very competitive in all-around. Her strength for us is beam and floor. She had some knee issues last year and had to take some time off. This was Hannah’s first trip out of town with our gymnastics team. She was very excited and happy to participate in the first meet.”

Junior Kaycie Berube leads the newcomers in all-around with sophomore Rylie Mannebach on vault and floor.

“Rylie is very solid on floor and progressing wonderfully on vault,” Pascoe said. “She could also be participating on bars. Kaycie came to us from competitive cheer and has some challenges to overcome on floor. She’s going to become a vaulter. Her skills are going to be there.”

Freshman hopefuls include Madi Abts (vault, floor, bars), Lily Benetti (all-around), Rylee Oysti (beam and floor) and Isy Pascoe (bars and vault).

“Madi has a lot of talent,” coach Pascoe said. “She could be an all-around gymnast. Rylee popped an ankle on the first day of practice, but she’s coming around. We’ve been working with her on beam. Bars are Lily’s favorite event and she’s solid on vault. She has a solid gymnastics background. Isy also likes bars. She has a lot of upper body strength. Bars have always been our weakest event. We’re hoping these girls are going to be willing to step up and do them.”

The Eskymos didn’t have a full team for their opener due to the school play.

“We have eight girls involved in the school play,” Pascoe said. “This will always be the case for the first meet, although we always encourage the kids to participate in other school events.

“Eight girls are going all-around. That’s huge. I keep telling them they’re going to be in the top five which is a good problem to have.”

The Eskymos will also host a triangular meet with Marquette and Bark River-Harris Jan. 28 and the Great Northern Conference meet Feb. 18 and are hoping to add home-and-home meets with Marquette.

The remaining schedule

Dec. 7 — Escanaba Elks Invitational; Dec. 14 — Walled Lake Invitational.

Jan. 10 — Linden Invitational; Jan. 16 — at Vassar; Jan. 17 — at Cass City; Jan. 18 — Vassar Invitational; Jan. 28 — Marquette and Bark River-Harris.

Feb. 1 — Canton Invitational; Feb. 7 — at Grand Ledge; Feb. 8 — Coldwater Invitational; Feb. 18 — GNC meet at Escanaba.

Mar. 1 — Regional meet at Rockford; Mar. 7 — Team state finals at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills; Mar. 8 — Individual state finals at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills.