Look for the trail
review on page 61
Volume 82, Issue 8 Web Edition
SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
October 26, 2016
Cycling wins its first
Division I national title
Sarah Hill takes first place in individual omnium
By Calum McAndrew
Editor in Chief
The Brevard College Cycling team won the
Division I USA Collegiate Mountain Bike
National Championship for the first time in
their history, adding to a host of other national
championship titles in recent years.
After placing second in their first ever showing
in the Division I National Championships last
year, the Tornados managed to go one better this
year in Snowshoe, W. Va., thanks to the help of
several inspired individual performances, and a
historic team performance.
Senior Sarah Hill claimed the individual title
for women, finishing a tremendous 84 points
ahead of second place, totalling 487 points over
the entire weekend. Hill, who is in her final
semester at Brevard College, was evidently
delighted at both her individual success, and the
victory for the team.
“I am so overwhelmed,” Hill said. “Everything
just went exactly right and I couldn’t think of a
better way to end my collegiate career. Brevard
is absolutely the best team in the entire country,
and I am confident that I pass the baton onto
some amazing riders.”
On the men’s side, it was junior Walker Shaw
who provided the Tornados best showing over
the weekend, riding his way to a runner up fin
ish in the men’s individual championship. Shaw
recorded 296 points in the individual omnium,
34 points behind eventual champion Stephan
Devoust of Fort Lewis College.
Also with impressive individual showings for
the Tornados over the weekend were sisters Al
lison and Hannah Arensman, who placed fourth
and fifth respectively in the women’s individual
omnium. Freshman Carson Beckett also had
a championship to remember, as he emerged
from the men’s individual omnium with a total
of 240 points.
In addition, the Tornados also emerged as vic
tors from the team relay national championship.
meaning on Sunday, Oct. 23, Brevard captured
their first Division I title in this discipline.
The four-person team for this event consisted
of Allison Arensman, Beckett, Zack Valdez and
Janelle Cole, who together led Brevard to the
team relay national title, ahead of Fort Lewis
College who placed second, and Savannah
College of Art and Design, who finished third.
Rounding off the weekend was the dual slalom
event, where sophomore Kyle Grau finished one
place ahead of teammate Shaw, placing in sixth
and seventh respectively. Also competing in
this event were juniors Callum McEwan, who
placed 13th, and Zach Hutelin, who finished in
16th place for the event.
For the women in the dual slalom, it was
once again Hill who provided the Tornados best
performance, finishing in 12th place. Junior
Samantha Miranda also competed in this event,
finishing up the race in 18th place overall.
The title that Brevard will find the most pride
in, however, is the Varsity Omnium first place
result, which hands Brevard their first Divi
sion I National Championship in their history.
There has not been a shortage of championships
and accolades for the team in recent years—in
mountain biking alone, the team has five national
championships in the previous seven years—but
this particular achievement is what years of
work has been building up to, according to head
cycling coach Brad Perley.
“Em floored and beyond proud of the efforts
put in by our entire team and coaching staff
this weekend,” Perley said. “It’s certainly the
culmination of lots of hard work over the years,
and it wouldn’t be possible without all the great
people in this program.”
After a weekend full of racing, Brevard found
themselves over 100 points ahead of third placed
Marian University, and 59 points ahead of
eventual runners up Fort Lewis College, in what
will go down as a historic weekend not just for
the Brevard College Cycling team, but for the
College as a whole.
The BC cycling team poses on the podium after their most recent National Championship success.