Mountain Bike Team aiming for third consecutive state championship

The Marshall County Mountain Bike Team following the podium ceremony after the first race of the season in Columbia, TN.
The Marshall County Mountain Bike Team following the podium ceremony after the first race of the season in Columbia, TN.

COLUMBIA, Tenn. – Marshall County High School’s Mountain Bike Team, the 2013 and 2014 Tennessee State Champions, continued to show their strength in NICA’s (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) Tennessee High School Cycling League in their first race of the season at the Chickasaw Trace State Park in Columbia, TN.

The Marshals took the top spot in five of eight podiums with nine riders securing a place on the podium. Taking first in Varsity girls was Karson Grizzard, first in JV girls went to Karlee Jones, McKenzie Tack took first in Sophomore girls,  Jaron Wood won the Sophomore boy’s race and Bobby Jones took first in Freshman boys.

Five more riders taking their place on the podium were Justice Beal with third in Varsity boys, Audrey Grizzard second in JV girls, Isaac Bayer fourth in JV boys, Travis Tack fifth in JV boys and Grant Wilson second in Freshman boys.

More strong individual performances came from Colton Adrian taking sixth and Bailey Mohler seventh in JV boys, Parker Jennings was seventh in Sophomore boys, Alex Parker 16th in Sophomore boys and Kyle McClain crossed in seventh in Freshman boys.

This season is the first for middle school races in the Tennessee League and the Marshals are fielding a strong group with eight team members making the trip to Columbia that included Kaleb Cosby, Alyssa McClain, Jaxon Story, Briar Cornwell, Griffen Darnall, Carson Denfip, Kaden Jameson and Joseph Roberts.

The rest of the Tennessee League race schedule:
Race #2  – September 27th at Herb Parsons, Memphis, TN
Race #3 – October 11th in Knoxville, TN
Race #4 – Novermber 8th, St. Andrews Sewanee, Sewanee, TN (State Championship)

The team is coached by Steve Beckett and Shane Darnall.

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