NICA State Mountain Bike Race Report

NICA State Championships, Race 6, Five Springs Ranch, Petaluma (May 20, 2018)
NICA State Championships, Race 6, Five Springs Ranch, Petaluma (May 20, 2018)
This venue - nestled in and winding through the rolling green north bay hills right outside our backyard - is the culminating event of our 2018 NorCal Racing Season for High School Mountain Bike Riding. It’s exciting to be in a much larger race, sharing the space with and competing against teams from all over the state, and reveling in the state-wide community. And, because it’s so close to home, the team got to see more friends and non racing families coming out to support the racers. It was also a bittersweet event, however, for seniors at the end of their high school careers including our own Siena McGibben. MC’s team has been putting in the work all season, and it showed, in many ways. For one, coaches, parents and racers were a well oiled machine setting up and breaking down the pit zone area, and there was a clear sense that team-mates had bonded and will have positive lasting memories. More than one parent has noted that it’s an uncommon treat for both male and female athletes to be competing together on the same team. Team parents also felt that sense of community, sharing their not-so-secret goals and their nervousness and excitement that there would be no more ambulance rides, that their kid would successfully start the race, would finish the race without technical problems or injuries, and would want to go back and do it again. Beyond that, learning just the right balance of support and encouragement for each student-athlete, and when it’s all up to the kids on bikes. Parents expressed appreciation for the coaches’ dedication, for each other’s involvement and support, and for the resulting overall great experience that makes the MC Mtn Bike team a success. 

The 2018 Marin Catholic Mountain Bike Team placed 7th out of a field of 48 Division 2 teams in the state of California at the end of the day, which is quite impressive, and even more so considering the team’s injuries this season. Way to go, Cats!  Senior Siena McGibben raced her last NorCal race and placed 30th in the state. Good job, Siena! Sophomore girls were awesome in a field of 36 racers: Katie Shearin placed 7th (top 10 in the entire state!) and Lauren Mullin came in at 15 (top half, in the state!). Freshman Angelica Valerio also qualified for state and finished in 46th place, good job! Our sophomore boys also peppered their 82-deep field. Dillon Solway placed 37th in the state (top half in the state, way to go Dillon!). Nathan Wilson placed 67, and Chris Timboe finished it out at 74, way to go boys!

The next two years, it’ll be our turn to commute to the state race, and SoCal’s turn to play host. That’s a long ways away, both in time and miles, but if this year was any indication, these young cats are good for the distance, and will be training to make that migration again, and better than ever.
 
Here's the team video from the state race at the same venue, exactly one year ago... still fun.
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