RAPID RIVER — The Rapid River girls are hoping early-season success will set the tone for the rest of this cross country season.

Rapid River opened by winning the Engadine Rock & Roll Relays Aug. 19 with seven points, one ahead of Mackinaw City.

The Rapid River boys were runners-up on a tie-breaker to the Comets with each team scoring six points.

“Mackinaw City has a decent group of kids,” coach Zach Truitt said. “They didn’t do that meet last year, but decided to do it this year. That was a good way to open the season.”

Rapid River, which resumes in Thursday’s Dale Phillips Invitational in Marquette, has eight girls and six boys on its roster.

Returners include third-year senior Aubrey Olson, juniors Sarah Beauchaine and Sam Quinn and sophomore Olivia Quinn.

“Aubrey put a lot of time in the weight room,” Truitt said. “She has personal goals. She’s not the fastest kid, but a team leader. She wanted to keep the team together and made it happen. Sarah won the trophy for the most minutes of running on the team and is way more comfortable running this year. Sam is way ahead of where she was last year. Sam and Olivia (sisters) feed off each other and push each other. They want to beat each other.”

Newcomers are sophomores Kaylee Tyler, Natalie Paquette and Victoria Coppock and freshman Julia Poma.

“Kaylee did real well in the relays and has the push to do well,” Truitt said. “We have a solid group of girls. Early in the season it’s hard to tell what other teams have, but we’ve got some depth. The girls were excited about coming home with a trophy. That’s something to keep to them motivated. That gets them excited.”

Junior Jon Denkins is the early pacesetter among the boys.

Other juniors include Jeb Green, Jae Poma and Kamden Holmio.

“We can tell Jon put a lot of minutes in,” Truitt said. “Jeb wants to be part of the team and Jae put in the most minutes. Kamden is our No. 6 guy, but improved over last year.”

Underclassmen are freshman Owen Truitt and eight-grader Brady Denkins.

“Owen kept us in first place at Engadine,” coach Truitt said. “He ran sub six-minute miles for all three laps and Brady has real good speed.”

After Labor Day, the Rockets go to Flat Rock for the inaugural Bay College High School Invitational Sept. 6.

“We’re coming in way ahead of last year,” coach Truitt said. “The boys can bring some trophies home and we’re hoping the girls can surprise some people.”

Rapid River hosts its invitational Sept. 20.

The remaining schedule:

Aug. 28 — Dale Phillips Invitational at Marquette.

Sept. 6 — Bay College Invitational at Flat Rock; Sept. 10 — Manistique Invitational; Sept. 15 — Tiffany Thorp Memorial Invitational at Newberry; Sept. 20 — Rapid River Invitational; Sept. 23 — El Harger Memorial Invitational at Munising.

Oct. 2 — Escanaba Eskymo Invitational; Oct. 8 — Skyline Central Conference at Superior Central; Oct. 18 — U.P. Division 3 Finals at Munising.