Wow – what a second weekend of racing! Once again, a huge thank you to all the parents and coaches who helped coordinate the tent, the kids, and the weekend as a whole. Another big shoutout to Coach Doug for making the trip up and back in a single day, fixing bikes in the rain, and to Coach Derek for hauling the trailer, loading and unloading, and all that extra work he does so we have everything we need!
We had 21 racers this weekend, and we continue to be blown away by our team. From what we’re hearing, this season’s weather has been unlike any other – cancelled races, constant changes, but our kids keep showing up, ready to give it their best. We’re incredibly proud of how every single racer handled the challenges of the weekend. Once again, they demonstrated composure, sportsmanship, and serious grit. It’s always inspiring to watch.
We lucked out Saturday with being able to pre-ride the trails; our kids were really looking forward to their races – technical climbs, fast downhills, and even a custom bridge. Sunday, though, brought another wild ride. The rain held off in the early morning, but by the time the middle school and high school boys were on course, the trails were soaked and the skies really opened up!
You’ll see below some of our first-time racers, ***, and please see some of the notes with some special recognition!
6th Grade Girls
7th place, Alice Schilling, 13:48
6th Grade Boys
10th place, Liam Ryan, 43:57 ***
7th Grade Girls
5th place, Hazel Bazzano, 35:18
8th, Mila Cameron, 16:56
7th Grade Boys
22nd place, William Marris, 45:47
8th Grade Boys
1st Place, Noah Awald, 26:35
3rd place, Matthew Monroe, 28:50
4th place, Tristan Drachenberg, 29:53 ***
6th place, Mace Conden, 32:08
Freshman Girls
4th Place, Audrey Poole, 48:19
6th place, Ella Komanecky, 53:42
Freshman Boys
5th Place, Francis Tolman, 1:05:14
6th Place, Nathan Corfield, 1:05:54
8th place, Ben Walz, 1:08.59
10th Place, Quintin Goodemote, 1:12:08
13th Place, Cyril Sheehan, 1:17.36
19th place, Jude DeOrdio, 1:29.23
Sophomore Girls
4th place, Eva Rudnick, 1:00.05
JV Girls
4th place, Laney Poole, 1:41.42
JV Boys
1st Place, Eli Timmerman, 58:19
13th place, Connor Romocki, 1:13.18
Final results from the weekend:
1. Saratoga Shredders Composite – 2200
2. Grey Ghost Composite – 2191
3. Mountain Goats – 2133
4. R-Cubed NICA – 2017
5. Central New York Composite – 1996
Special Recognition
Jude DeOrdio
Jude had an eventful race—caught in a crash right off the start, he got back on the bike and pushed through a strong first lap. By lap two, his drivetrain was so caked with mud that his chain wouldn’t stay on. With Coach Nicky’s help, he tried to clear it mid-race by hand but had no luck. So, he ran—faster than many could ride—until he reached the feed zone, where he used three bottles of water to clean off enough mud to get his chain working again. He finished his third lap with grit and determination, and we are so proud of the composure he showed in such a tough situation.
Alice Schilling, Mila Cameron, and Paige Civitella
Each of these athletes faced their own set of challenges this weekend and made brave, thoughtful decisions in how they approached them. As athletes ourselves, we recognize how difficult it is to step back and make a call that prioritizes your own wellbeing—and we couldn’t be prouder. Even more, each of them managed to find something positive in their experience. That kind of mindset is something to celebrate.
A few additional reminders…
Post-race tips:
- Racers should also aim to complete a short cool down ride (5-10 minutes) post race before eating a meal.
- Racers should aim to eat within 30 minutes of their race finish. We will have chocolate milk for the racers post race – this will help kickstart recovery, especially if they aren’t able to eat within 30 minutes
- On cold race days, racers should be wrapped up extra warm when they finish. Sweating and racing hard means they’ll rapidly get cold, and once they’re cold, it’s very hard to get warmed up again.
- It’s normal to experience sore, achy muscles, fatigue, and stiffness in the days following a race.
Looking to next practice and beyond, please ensure your riders are always practice-ready, that means they should carry:
- Two bottles of water, or equivalent in their hydration pack.
- A flat kit (tire levers, a tube that’s fits their bikes wheel/tire size, a hand pump or CO2 cartridge, and a multi-tool) – this is a requirement and not optional. Speak to Nicky or Lisa if you have any barriers to having a full flat kit – we will help you.
- Appropriate layers of clothing for riding, considering temperature fluctuations.
