MINOT, N.D. – The start of another new season gets underway this weekend as the Minot State cross-country teams hit the ground running at the Dragon Twilight hosted by Minnesota State Moorhead on Friday.

The Twilight is the first of four meets this fall for the Beavers in preparation for the NSIC Championships, held Saturday, November 7, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"I think the overall excitement is pretty good with the group," first-year Beavers head cross-country coach Erik Stevens said. "More so on the men's side because we're going to be racing a full team. I think they're really ready to get after it.

"On the women's side, we're only going to be racing a couple of individuals, ...I can tell you were really excited about getting out there and racing, as well."

Returning juniors Addyson Wendt and Julie Folk will represent the Beavers this weekend, part of a women's roster featuring senior returner and two-time NSIC indoor track and field champion Bailey Wride, along with incoming freshmen Brooklyn Kitchens and Hannah Senechal.

Wride is the top returner for the Beavers as she finished 53^rd at last falls' NSIC meet in 24 minutes, 9.1 seconds on the 6-kilometer course.

"We're excited to have her; I think she had a great campaign last season and is coming in in a really good spot off of the summer," Stevens said.

"Julie Folk will be another returner that I think is really going to surprise some people," Stevens said, adding, "and then Addyson Wendt, as a returner, as well, who I think had a really solid summer and I think is really confident."

Folk was 85^th at the 2025 NSIC meet in 24:53.7 and Wendt was 121^st in 27:15.4, giving the Beavers experienced talent to build upon this fall.

They'll be helped out by Kitchens, who was 18^th individually for the Class A state champion Williston Coyotes last fall, finishing the girls 5K course in 19:34.4, while Senechal was the top finisher placing 15th in 20:17.1 for the Rugby Panthers, who were 4^th at the Class B state meet.

"(They're) bringing some really good talent to the table. My job is to keep them moving in the right direction. So, I'm really excited to see what they can accomplish."

As for the Minot State men, they'll field a full team this weekend at the Dragon Twilight led by returning seniors Jake Jenkins and Holter Bridwell.

Jenkins was Minot State's top finisher at the 2025 NSIC Championships, placing 44th in 26:53.8, while Bridwell was close behind him in 59th in 27:20.9 for the men's 8K race.

"I think they've been doing a great job so far," Stevens said of the team's senior leaders, adding, "just kind of pulling everybody along with them. I really think that they can do some things and surprise themselves within the conference."

As for a top newcomer to watch on the men's side, that would be freshman Carter Heggem from Sidney, Montana, who was 12^th individually at the Class A Montana state championship in 17:01.1 on the boys 5K course.

"I think (Carter) can come in and really throw a few wrenches in some people's plans as we get later in the season," Minot State's coach said.

All the Beavers will look to do that, and exceed the expectations of their rivals in the NSIC, as Stevens said both teams have achievable goals of moving into the top 10 in the conference at the Championships on November 7.

"Improvement is really what we're looking for," Stevens said, looking ahead to the Championships.

"...I don't believe in rankings, to be completely honest," the Beavers coach added. "We use them for motivation. I think we've been kind of discounted a little bit ...I'm hoping that's going to feed their fire to go out there and perform."