SEWANEE, Tennessee – Sunday marked the final race of the 2015 Tennessee High School Cycling League season with the State Championships held at St. Andrews-Sewanee School.
Marshall County High School claimed the State Championship for the third straight year and took the individual state title in seven of eight divisions. The team from St. Andrews-Sewanee took second place with third going to Harpeth Youth Composite.
“The Marshals had an incredible year, building on their experience and led by the Varsity riders that have been on the team since its beginning three years ago”, Coach Steve Beckett said. “That is a testament to their dedication and hard work that it takes to race a bike at a competitive level.”
Karson Grizzard and Carson Beckett won both Varsity state titles, Audrey Grizzard won the JV division, Mckenzie Tack and Jaron Wood captured the sophomore titles and Alyssa McClain and Bobby Jones took the freshman titles.
The only individual title not won by a Marshall County rider was in the JV boy’s race which was closely contested throughout the season with Matthew Slavick of Christian Brothers High School easing out Isaac Bayer who took 2nd and Bailey Mohler 3rd in final state standings.
“We have a strong JV class of boys and girls that are all podium threats every race with several first place finishes among them”, Beckett said. “Our Sophomore and Freshman class has some new talent that are some of the fastest kids on our team and in the League. When you have a diverse group of kids that have fun in what they are doing and enjoy making each other suffer, they not only set a good example but provide leadership for the younger kids to look up to.”
The State Champions are decided on accumulated points from the entire season and from the first race until the last, the Marshall County team led the other schools in decisive victories and the overall number of podium finishers capturing all eight of a possible eight top podium spots, Freshman through Varsity in the final race.
Four seniors will graduate from this year’s squad including Carson Beckett who has won the Varsity state title for the third consecutive year, Karson Grizzard who finishes her career as Varsity champion after taking second in the state last year as a JV rider and 2nd in 2013 in the Sophomore division, Justice Beal finished this season in fifth overall, was injured during the 2014 season and won the Sophomore state title in 2013 and Karlee Jones, new to the team this season, finished second in the state in the JV standings.
“It is even more amazing yet, that the leadership of the four seniors will produce even more talent in the younger riders”, Coach Shane Darnall said. “What a group of seniors for the younger riders to have as role models, not just the way they ride bikes, but also the way they conduct themselves as young men and women in day to day life.”
This year the league was enhanced with the addition of a middle school program with great results by the Marshall middle school riders. The middle school program brought 13 riders to the team, many of them first time riders which Coach Beckett said was a challenge when there is a group of kids whose experience ranges from true beginner to a national champion.
“The safety of the rider is paramount and still provide a challenging practice based on each riders different level of fitness and skill set which is something we could not have pulled off without our volunteers”, Beckett said. “Many of the volunteers are parents and we have several that don’t have a kid on the team that help out just because they enjoy riding and being a part of this awesome group. I hope all the kids return next year and are ready to take their riding ability to the next level.”
Darnall was also concerned with the team dynamics with the addition of the middle school program hoping that it wouldn’t take away from the high school riders getting in a good workout.
“That is what makes our team so awesome, the fact that they welcomed all the middle schoolers and still got enough work in, even if it meant that they had to work above and beyond the scheduled practice times”, Darnall said. “I have always said that hard work will produce, and to get eight out of eight top podium finishes at the state finals race is amazing, and proof of just that.”
Both Beckett and Darnall want to thank the kids for working through hot, humid summers, mosquitos, ticks, bee stings, dust, mud and rain, and for a great season and Beckett, whose son Carson rides on the team, is thankful for the help he has been with the team for the past three years and being a part of a new growing sport at MCHS.
“Through his hard work and dedication he has shown these kids the possibilities what riding your bike can provide at a national, international and soon to be collegiate level”, Beckett said. “He has sacrificed a lot to pursue a dream, and his time spent with the team was invaluable both to me, Coach Darnall and the team.”
“I don’t know of any other high school sport where a parent can go to a practice with them and actually participate in helping the team and get in shape while you’re both doing it and then at the races you continue to be involved and support and cheer for them all along the race course and in the pit area. It’s quite unique to this area and I can only hope that what these kids have accomplished, not just with their victories, but personally with their hard work and dedication and supporting each one of their team mates, will provide an opportunity for kids that are looking for a way to get some exercise and be a part of their school sports program by becoming a member of the Mountain Bike Team.”
Middle school riders in the final race for Marshall County were Gracie Barrett, Kaden Jameson, Carson Denfip, Jaxon Story, Griffen Darnall, Joseph Roberts, Clay Austin, Kaleb Cosby and Kalessin Duffy.
Final race podiums/Marshall results and final state standings:
| DIVISION | PLACE | RIDER | SCHOOL | STATE RESULTS |
| Freshman Girls | 1st | Allyssa McClain | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Audrey Freeman | Independent | 3rd Place | |
| 3rd | Peyton Poulos | Independent | 2nd Place | |
| Freshman Boys | 1st | Bobby Jones | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Harrison Klapheke | Harpeth Youth Composite | 2nd Place | |
| 3rd | Grant Wilson | Marshall County | 3rd Place | |
| 4th | Kyle McClain | Marshall County | ||
| 5th | Aidan Smith | St. Andrews-Sewanee | ||
| 11th | Drew Coleman | Marshall County | ||
| Sophomore Girls | 1st | Mckenzie Tack | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Caroline O’Neal | Williamson Cty Composite | 2nd Place | |
| 3rd | Ashley DuRard | C.P.A. HS | ||
| 4th | Hannah Groves | C.P.A. HS | ||
| 5th | Victoria Alexander | Marshall County | 3rd Place | |
| Sophomore Boys | 1st | Jaron Wood | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Mason Shefield | Independent | 2nd Place | |
| 3rd | Arvin Jansen | USN HS | ||
| 4th | Matthew Mollica | St. Andrews-Sewanee | 3rd Place | |
| 5th | Jack Major | Williamson Cty Composite | ||
| 8th | Alex Parker | Marshall County | ||
| 9th | Parker Jennings | Marshall County | ||
| JV Girls | 1st | Audrey Grizzard | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Karlee Jones | Marshall County | 2nd Place | |
| 3rd | Ashton Milford | St. Andrews-Sewanee | 3rd Place | |
| JV Boys | 1st | Bailey Mohler | Marshall County | 3rd Place |
| 2nd | Matthew Slavick | Christian Brothers HS | State Champion | |
| 3rd | Isaac Bayer | Marshall County | 2nd Place | |
| 4th | Travis Tack | Marshall County | ||
| 5th | Carter Jackson | Williamson Cty Composite | ||
| 6th | Colton Adrian | Marshall County | ||
| Varsity Girls | 1st | Karson Grizzard | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Abby Mainzer | St. Andrews-Sewanee | 2nd Place | |
| 3rd | Jessica Tillson | Independent | 3rd Place | |
| Varsity Boys | 1st | Carson Beckett | Marshall County | State Champion |
| 2nd | Kyle Tiesler | Harpeth Youth Composite | 2nd Place | |
| 3rd | Simon Lewis | Williamson Cty Composite | 3rd Place | |
| 4th | John Austin Miller | C.P.A. HS | ||
| 5th | Justice Beal | Marshall County |