VAHS Champions
Pouring rain, rocky creeks, and muddy trails challenged 500 riders and 31 teams during the VAHS MTB Championship race at Blue Ridge School on Saturday, May 11. The MSA Mavericks stampeded through the challenging terrain to claim both the boys and girls Varsity Championship titles.
While the racing was the most challenging it had been all season, the experience and training of the Mavericks allowed the team to navigate the course with the confidence and requisite skills to succeed.
Katie Clouse and Jane Tullis led the team in girls varsity race. In their first MTB race of the season, the duo dusted off their mountain bikes after a full spring of racing on the road and got to work. Clouse stormed to victory after taking the lead on the opening climb, and Tullis finished just off the podium.
The sky opened for the varsity boys race. Steady rain fell during the sixteen-mile event—riders crossed the line covered in mud. The depth of talent on the boys roster allowed for numerous top-ten results which won the day for the Mavericks.
The VAHS MTB Series is the largest interscholastic USA Cycling event in the country. It attracts some of the most talented mountain bikers in the country to the highly competitive five races.
MSA riders head into the summer with a wide range of goals on mountain bikes and road bikes. USA National Championships are less than a month away, and the team is aiming to bring home more National titles.