Nor-Cal High School Cycling Marin High School Riders Gain Nor-Cal Success
It’s always great to see the next generation of mountain bikers continue to improve.
Tamalpais High School’s Red-tailed Hawks mtb squad took top results as a Division 1 team for the first time in program history – a new high-water mark in a season marked by accomplishments. With strong finishes by multiple riders, the team won the recent Five Springs Farm Round-Up in Petaluma.
“It’s really a joint effort between the boys and the girls to have that team success,” Tam coach Christy Allen said. “In high school mountain biking, we’re on all the same team and the girls have to score as well as the boys for the team to do well.”
Tam’s top varsity rider, Clayton Puckett, placed fourth in Petaluma. Julian LePelch won the JV boys race and Liam Howard placed fourth. Pearson Ames, Hobey Pollack and Zack Baum all placed inside the top four in the sophomore boys race. Freshman Kaveh Pourmehr placed third and Clodagh Mellett and Kelsey Van Allen placed inside the top three in the freshman girls race.
“The way that the scoring matrix works is that, for a (Division 1) team, you need to have eight riders score,” Allen said. “Each rider gets a number of points based on what place they finish in their category. Varsity and junior varsity score more points than sophomores and freshmen, so it’s great to have varsity and junior varsity riders on the podium because they score a lot of points.”
This comes after increasing podium places at Fort Ord and Granite Bay races. For the full report, check out the feature story in the Marin IJ.
About Nor-Cal:
The NorCal High School Cycling League was organized in 2001 to provide quality mountain biking programs for students in grades 9 to 12. Regardless of ability level, the NorCal League is committed to providing a positive experience for all student-athletes, and helping them to create strong body, mind and character through the sport of cycling. The League is responsible for establishing a climate that will provide students who have the desire to mountain bike with the coaching and camaraderie that will help them achieve both competitive and non-competitive cross-country mountain biking goals in a safe and enjoyable manner, as well as foster a responsible attitude toward the use and conservation of trails and wilderness.
“This no drop, no bench sport, has the unique power to enrich teens lives, innumerably!” says Executive Director, Vanessa Hauswald.
