Mountain bike team places in top 20 at state

The Utah high school mountain bike racing season ended at the state championship meet, which took place on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, at a tough, strenuous and fast track in St. George, where the Red Devils took 19th out of 53 teams.

Proving that mountain biking is a growth sport for Utah youth, 1,794 riders turned up for the state meet. The Red Devils had 15 riders participate.

Senior Annie Kopell pedaled to 45th place in girls varsity on her final NICA race of her high school career, capping four years riding with the Red Devils.

Standing on the podium were junior Elijah Topper, placing 3rd in junior varsity boys (but 5th over the entire race series), and sophomore Eli Taylor, placing 23rd on the day (but 9th in the series).

Other race results for the day included the freshmen races: Ariann Child in 13th; Isaac O’Harra in 33rd; Matthew Andrew in 42nd; Zane Maher-Young in 58th; Brendan Moore in 63rd; Conor Duniway in 83rd; Theo Lawson in 120th; and Jacob Knight in 125th.

In the sophomore race, Jackson Sorenson took 24th, River Martucci took 52nd and Kyler Helquist took 57th.

In the junior varsity boys race, Wyatt Gholson also took 87th.

The Moab riders said they are grateful for the dedication of the coaches, parents and sponsors who made this season a success.

Topper said, “The course was a long, semi-technical slog to the top, with a fairly rewarding downhill. The number of people there was incredible.”

Moab takes 19th; meet hosts almost 1,800 riders

“The coarse was a long, semi-technical slog to the top, with a fairly rewarding downhill. The number of people there was incredible.”