By Dan Hardenbrook
The spring sports season launched for Engadine this past weekend, as the Eagles Boys and Girls Varsity and Middle School track teams headed to LSSU for the 4th Annual Yooper Indoor Invitational. With Mother Nature still causing havoc, the indoor meet was a destination for schools large and small. The small Division 3 Eagles found themselves competing with teams representing all divisions and class sizes in the early season competition.
In the boys varsity division, Engadine finished 12th out of 15 total teams in a field that included the likes of Sault Ste. Marie, Alpena, and Escanaba among many others. The Eagles only picked up 9 points on the day, but they handled their own just fine against similar schools. At the day’s end the Eagles finished ahead of EUP conference mates Rudyard and Cedarville, and they were just behind Rogers City (13 points) and Brimley (11 points). Engadine’s boys were led by the strength of their distance runners, with Dakota Taylor taking fourth in the 1600M run (4:53.92) and 5th in the 3200M (10:46.76).
Bianca Briggs led the Lady Eagles with an impressive showing, winning the 200M with a time of 28.15, and placing 2nd in the 55m dash (7.85). As a group, Engadine’s girls finished their season opener in 10th place out of 15 teams running in the event. The Varsity Eagles are hoping to make it outside for their next scheduled meet Thursday in Pickford.
In middle school action at LSSU on Friday, the Engadine boys finished fifth while the girls took sixth place. Molly McNamara led Lady Eagles runners with a first place in the 1600M run, and second place in the 800M. She anchored the third place 4×400 relay team that also included Claire Christiansen, Maggie Mersnick, and Mila Smith. Christiansen took third in the 55M sprint. The middle school boys performances were highlighted by Kashius Hopper (2nd – 400M, 2nd High Jump), and Oliver French (3rd – 1600M).
