Byron Wheeler, 8th Grade Boys
(Jackson)-It was a busy weekend for the White County Mountain Bike teams as they participated in their third race of the season in Jackson, Georgia. According to Jeff DeFoor, Head Coach for the White County High School Mountain Bike Team, “The “Duel at Dauset” was held on Sunday with beautiful weather, located at Dauset Trails Nature Center. Both the White County High School and Yonah Composite teams were successful once again capturing team awards.”
According to DeFoor this race is the midpoint in our season and our athletes were really able to show how the training they’ve been putting in at practices has really paid off. Over the last week Defoor said “ We had to move our practice from our local favorite, Yonah Preserve Trails, due to the recent storm damage.” He said, “ We put in many miles of gravel riding north of Helen, which prepared the athletes for portions of this course that were similar.”
Yonah Composite accumulated a total of 2,064 points earning them a 1st place finish out of 17 teams in Division 2. White County High School accumulated a total of 2,076 points providing them with a tie for 3rd place finish out of 22 teams in Division 1. In the series, Yonah Composite is Leading Division 2 and White County is currently in 3rd place in Division 1.
The Yonah Composite team had 8 athletes participate in the race. Elizabeth Himstedt placed 5th in Varsity girls category and currently sits in 4th for the series. Olivia Nixon placed 4th in the JV1 girls category and is now 3rd in the series. Levi Hogan pulled off an impressive 1st place finish in the JV2 boys category for his first-ever podium finish! Also racing for Yonah Composite were Avery Himstedt (JV1), Brayden Watkins (JV1), and Hope Hogan (Freshman). The Yonah Composite Middle School team had racers Byron Wheeler (8th) and Owen Meinecke (6th).
White County High School had 7 athletes participate in this race. Anna Kate DeFoor placed 3rd in the Varsity girl’s category and now sits in 3rd for the series. In the JV1 boy’s category, Jesse Bowen took 1st place and now sits in 1st for the series allowing him to wear the leader’s jersey next race. Chance Miller took 3rd place in the Freshman boys category and now sits in 2nd in the series. Also participating in the race were Joe Murphy (JV2), Alex Wall (JV2), Carter Burford (Freshman), and Benjamin Witcher (Freshman).
Yonah Composite, 1 st Place Division II Team
White County Middle School had 9 athletes participate again in the race. Two of the athletes achieved a podium finish. Deizel Griffin placed 3rd in 8th grade boys and is 2nd in the series points, Jace Caudell placed 5th in 6th grade boys. Also participating in the race were Reagan Adams (7th grade girls), Rush Chamberlain (8th grade), Lucas Johnson (8th grade), Rucker Anderson (7th grade), Gus Brackett (7th grade), Zachary Hogan (7th grade), and Cole Robbins (6th grade).
The next race is a special one, not only is it the Conference Championship, but it will be held for the first time on the home course at Yonah Preserve Trails!
According to Defoor, “ We look forward to getting a chance to show everyone in the state what a special place we have right here in White County.”
Many volunteers have been working hard to clean up after the storm damage and prepare the course for Race #4 the “Clash in Cleveland” on October 19th & 20th. We hope that the community will come out and see a great event. Check out georgiacycling.org for more information.
