The Crescenta Valley High School mountain bike team continued its winning ways with a dominating victory in race No. 3 held at Castaic Lake Recreation Area on Sunday. On an unseasonably hot day with mid-day temperatures in the low 90s, 488 high school racers representing 74 schools took to the season’s most challenging course with high hopes for themselves and their respective teams. At the end of a very hard day of racing, the CV cycling team stood alone at the top of the podium winning Division 1 by a large margin. After three races of the five-race SoCal League season, the undefeated CV cycling team has a commanding lead in the overall team competition.

“This was the first ‘home’ race we have had in the seven year history of the SoCal League and the team was determined to put their best efforts forward,” said head coach Jim Rowton. “We had many supporters, sponsors and friends come out to support the team and we are very grateful for their presence. Their collective energy and enthusiasm really helped our athletes to find their very best.”

Every member of the team contributed demonstrating what is possible when a team is committed to a common goal. Outstanding season’s best individual performances were turned in by most members. Particularly noteworthy performances included Jason Rowton’s third place in varsity boys, DeeAnna Lopez with a third place in JV girls, Ellis Cobb and Brenna Pratt finishing fourth and fifth in varsity girls and Jarrett Sharp with his first ever individual podium finishing fifth in sophomore boys.

Outstanding finishes were turned in by all including Alexander DeRoche, Adam Rowton and Tobias Iven in varsity boys, Dylan Steinart and Christian Molina in JV boys, Lance Dennison in sophomore boys, and Fredric Brandt, Aidan Mosman, Gabriel Howard Ron, Tomas Lai and Theo Morgan Arnold in freshman boys. The junior development team rider, Tristan Cobb, finished fourth in the middle school race on Saturday that had 159 middle school kids participating.

The team moves forward to the California state championship race on May 17. At the state championship race, the best teams from the SoCal League will face the best teams from two NorCal Leagues in a one-day event to crown the best individual student athletes in the state as well as the best teams. CV cycling is the only team from the SoCal League to have achieved the honor of being named California state champions, having won the race in 2013 in Novato located north of San Francisco. This year’s race takes place at Los Olivos just outside of Solvang.

The SoCal League is an all-volunteer program of hundreds of dedicated coaches, parents and supporters. With over 5,000 student athletes competing in leagues in 15 states guided by over 1,800 volunteer licensed, trained and certified coaches, high school cycling is opening doors and changing lives for student athletes all over the country.  This coed sport is open to all high school and middle school kids who have a desire to participate in athletics. In cycling, everyone participates equally and no one is excluded.

Those who want to know more or would like to get involved as a supporter or volunteer coach to help grow these programs can visit socaldirt.org for everything SoCal or visit the national website at nationalmtb.org to learn more about the growing national movement.

Submitted by CV Cycling