ESCANABA — They may be a little young, but there is optimism brewing among the ranks of the Escanaba boys’ track and field team as it begins a new season.

Esky, which opens in today’s Gladstone Invitational at 3:30, has 28 on its roster.

“We have a strong turnout among our younger guys,” coach Scott Dykema says. “Some of the juniors moved over from baseball and our underclassmen are pretty athletic. All the guys are dedicated athletes. They’re ready to go.”

Seniors include Zander Bowden, who’s entered in the distances and 300-meter hurdles, Landon Carrao in the hurdles, Dante Rouse (sprints) and Adam Schroeder (middle distances).

Junior hopefuls are sprinters Alex Ison and Brody Levesque and Zahn Anderson (weight events and 400), Ken Nedeau (shot put) and Cale Schroeder (mid distances).

“This is Alex’s first year and he’s already showing promise,” Dykema said. “He’s fast and Zahn is going full-time with track.”

Ten of their athletes are sophomores, led by Andrew Hamlin in high jump, long jump and 400 and 1600 relay.

“Andrew is a good athlete who can do pretty much what he wants to,” Dykema said. “We have a pretty solid crew. I’m pretty happy with where we’re at. We have some real good athletes. I’m anxious to see where they’re at.”

Four of them are sprinters, including Elijah Englund, Wesley Hardwick, Haidyn Denis, who’s also doing hurdles, and Isaac Lambert.

Kingston Berube, who has tendinitis in his knee, Jeremy Barron and Michael Lemerand are entered in the distances.

Barron is also doing long jump with Lambert entered in pole vault and high jump.

Other sophomores such as Brady Moyle and Chris Glish are in the weight events.

Representing the freshman class are Cash Kenneally and Wyatt Gallagher (distances), Sebastian Arnold (sprints) and Gabriel Brooks and Colin Erickson (sprints and weight events).

Following their opener, the Eskymos return to Gladstone for Tuesday’s Delta County Invitational.

They travel to Menominee April 28 before hosting their own invite May 1.

The schedule:

April 16 — Gladstone Invitational; April 21 — Delta County Invitational at Gladstone; April 28 — Menominee Invitational.

May 1 — Escanaba Invitational; May 5 — Manistique Emerald Invitational; May 8 — Negaunee Invitational; May 13 — Division 1 regional at Manistique; May 18 — Great Northern Conference at Gladstone; May 30 — U.P. Finals at Kingsford.