With dirt STILL under my fingernails, a few spots of glitter lingering on my face, and a voice that’s only halfway recovered, I’m still trying to process this weekend.
I suppose the best place to start is at the beginning.
Fronhofer Farm is such a fantastic venue. Yes, there are climbs. Yes, there are technical sections. But my favorite part is that the entire NICA NY community comes together in one big field. Riders reconnecting with friends, coaches catching up, families cheering, frisbees flying, and laughter everywhere you look. It’s one of those weekends that reminds you how special this community really is.
New this year was the first annual Switch-a-Roo XC, featuring categories such as “I Try Really Hard and I Don’t Care What People Say,” “Sometimes I Ride My Bike,” and “I Love Food and Beer, But I Ride a Fair Bit.” The names alone were worth the price of fundraiser admission.
But you may be wondering: Who ran the race? How did the coaches race? Who handled staging, timing, hydration, and all the little details?
Don’t worry, friends—the kids had it covered.
Our incredible NICA NY athletes, including many of our Sharks, rolled out the red carpet for the coaches and parents. They staffed staging, managed riders, kept things organized, and cheered us on every step of the way. Watching them step into leadership roles and confidently take ownership of the event was every bit as rewarding as the racing itself.
It was a perfect reminder of what NICA is all about: developing not just strong athletes, but capable, confident young leaders.
Here are the coach results:
I Try Hard – Female
- Nicky Jennings — 1st
- Laney Poole — 5th
I Try Hard – Male
- Nathan Anderson — 6th
- Christian Komanecky — 15th
- Doug Trojan — 23rd
I Try Really Hard, and I Don’t Care What People Say – Female
- Lisa Holt — 1st
I Try Really Hard, and I Don’t Care What People Say – Male
- Matt Timmerman — 5th
Sometimes I Ride My Bike – Female
- Allison Komanecky — 5th
- Jillian Sheehan — 7th
- Elizabeth Walz — 8th
- Justine Kreso
- Jess DeOrdio
I Love Food and Beer, But I Ride a Fair Bit – Male
- Jeff Sosville — 2nd
- Nick Ryan — 5th
- John Marris — 7th
- Bryan Hammer — 9th
The coach waves were spread across both the high school and middle school courses, with varying lap distances depending on the category. I have to say, I was pretty proud—and absolutely loved—seeing our coaches out on course. Yes, even you, John Marris. 😉
Personally, after driving out early, helping set up the course, and spending the day in the sun, I did NOT want to race. But like we try to teach our Sharks, I decided to give myself a chance. I reminded myself that I don’t have to feel good for it to be good.
Here are the results: https://my.raceresult.com/404353/#0_3EF1B7
A special shout-out to our Sharks who also took on the Black Fly Gravel Grinder: Coaches Chris Corfield, Todd Gloo, Todd DeOrdio and Jamin Brown; athletes Elodie and Ethan Brown; and alumni Jon Taber and Trent Gloo. What an awesome representation of our community!
Now to the main event…
Thankfully, the weather cooperated. We’ll take a little dust over last year’s rain any day! Our Sharks SHOWED UP—not just in the results, but in the way they supported one another throughout the day.
There were races where everything came together perfectly, and there were races where things didn’t go according to plan. As much as those moments can sting and leave us feeling disappointed, they also provide some of the greatest opportunities for growth. It’s easy to keep moving forward when everything is going your way. The real challenge—and the real learning—happens when things don’t unfold the way you hoped, expected, or dreamed they would.
What makes me proud is that our Sharks continue to show resilience, adapt, support each other, and keep moving forward. Those are the lessons that last long after the race results are forgotten.
5th Grade Boys
14th — Henry Kreso
17th — Billy Sosville
32nd — Benjamin Anderson (got a flat)
6th Grade Boys
2nd — Logan Timmerman
8th — Henry Strong: Henry bounced back so strongly after having some dehydration issues on Saturday—it was fantastic to see how he recovered and still raced his heart out.
12th — Easton Hammer: Easton had a rough race, but as I reminded him, he was allowed to be disappointed, but I was so proud of how he handled it; he kept fighting all the way to the line.
16th — Cillian Rudnick
6th Grade Girls
3rd — Elodie Brown (after racing 40 miles the day before!)
6th — Clara Kennard
Elodie and Clara had a minor collision at the beginning of the race. It may have caused a slight bump, but they kept racing hard and finished so strongly.
7th Grade Boys
4th — Theodore Kreso: Teddy had a dropped post issue, went over the bars, and kept fighting.
6th — Liam Ryan
7th Grade Girls
2nd — Maude Sosville: Maude has been working SO hard, and each race was closing the gap to second place—this race she left it ALL out there and had a 2 min+ gap!
5th — Alice Schilling
8th Grade Boys
5th — Ethan Brown (after racing 40 miles the day before!)
14th — William Marris
8th Grade Girls
2nd — Hazel Bazzano
Freshman Boys
1st — Noah Awald
9th — Matthew Monroe
11th — Kai Greven
15th — Tristan Drachenberg: Tristan had a tough day; he crashed and also had mechanical issues on his bike. It’s so frustrating, but he didn’t quit; he finished with what he could and fought to the line.
17th — Lennin Mastrangelo
19th — Charlie Obernesser
Freshman Girls
5th — Mae Sosville
7th — Ada DeOrdio
Sophomore Boys
1st — Quintin Goodemote
2nd — Francis Tolman
3rd — Nathan Corfield
What a race from these three. They made it all happen—working together, and another sprint finish!
7th — Benjamin Walz
11th — Cyril Sheehan
14th — Jude DeOrdio
Sophomore Girls
6th — Ella Komanecky
JV Girls
6th — Audrey Poole
9th — Eva Rudnick
Our HS girls all finished off the season with their best races, while having fun and smiles on their faces.
Varsity Boys
2nd — Peter Del Pino – Peter was in the mix the entire time and was just outsprinted. As our only graduating senior, he really put on a fantastic race for the rest of us to watch!
The full results: https://my.raceresult.com/403574/
A few of our Sharks narrowly missed the podium yesterday, and while that’s always a little tough in the moment, what makes it so impressive is their consistency throughout the season. Their hard work and determination earned them spots on the overall season podiums—a testament to showing up, putting in the work, and continuing to improve week after week. We’ll be sharing those accomplishments soon!
Also, a special shoutout to Hazel, who showed incredible courage by sharing with the entire league how fellow competitor Annalise from the Finger Lakes Crankspinners exemplified what NICA is all about. Hazel recognized Annalise for racing with class, supporting others, and demonstrating true humility. Moments like these remind us that while racing is fun, character, sportsmanship, and community are what make this sport so special.
In addition to some exciting news from the league, we’ll be preparing for NICA NY’s transition to a fall league format. Beginning in 2027, the season will include three races in the spring and three races in the fall. The league will also be hosting a fundraiser at Wolf Hollow Brewing this September, and we’ll be sure to share more details as soon as they’re available.
To our parents and coaches—thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. This team is so much more than a mountain bike team; it’s a family. The countless hours spent coaching, volunteering, transporting bikes, organizing meals, cheering on riders, and supporting one another are what make the Sharks such a special community. Your dedication never goes unnoticed.
A reminder that tomorrow is our end-of-season picnic! Feel free to bring bikes (and helmets) for games and riding fun. We’ll also need a few volunteers to help set up the pavilion before dinner.
Most importantly, thank you for allowing us the privilege of watching these Sharks grow each season—both as athletes and as young people. The confidence, resilience, friendships, and leadership we’ve seen develop this year have been incredible.
This season was one for the record books. Through everyone’s collective effort, the Sharks earned our highest-ever league finish, placing 3rd overall in NICA NY. More than anything, that result reflects the culture we’ve built together: working hard, supporting one another, continuing to learn, and never forgetting to have fun along the way.
We’re incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum in the seasons ahead.
Thank you all for everything.
Your head coaches,
Lisa and Todd.
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