All the heat, all of the humidity and about 60 Coyotes showed up to race Heritage Park in Adrian on Sunday, August 29th. On many fronts, this was a successful day. Perhaps more than any other factor, our coaches reveled in the return to mass-start racing after 2020’s reliance on the time trial format to allow races to proceed at all.
Also, before we get into the race itself, I need to make a special mention of our sponsors. Their direct financial contributions to this team make much of what we do possible. From the bike racks to the tents (and our trailer) nearly every bit of race-day gear was purchased by sponsorship dollars (not to mention the subsidy that keeps racing and jersey costs under control). If you get a chance, please check out our list of sponsors, and if you’re shopping for any of the services they provide, start there first (and let them know you’re part of the Coyotes!).
Highlights of the day included well over 500 MiSCA racers, the hottest weekend of the year with 93% humidity at the start of the varsity race and 93 degrees at the start of elementary races in the afternoon, a challenging technical course, the Boon Hoffman Dining Service in full effect, no fewer than five team tents to house our growing team, new racing Coyotes at nearly every level of competition, and more popsicles than you can imagine.
As our team has grown, I’ve gotten nervous I’ll miss someone in these writeups! So, if you raced (or your child race) and I don’t mention them here, email me right away and I will update the race review post to include their finish. The same goes for pictures: f you’ve got a great picture of your child I want to include it here. wmcoyotesmtb@gmail.com gets to me, and all the other coaches too.
-Coach Miller
Perhaps the most evident change in this year’s MiSCA race was the sheer number of racers. The team tent area was busier and bigger. Race groups that previously ran with 20-30 kids ran with 50-60! Somehow, amidst the potential for chaos, MiSCA held it together really well and the day went off flawlessly. If you see a MiSCA staffer, thank them for spending the entire day in the heat putting on this race for our kids! It was a day to remember for sure.
Race Winners
Podium Finishers – Heritage Park
Varsity
- Luke Zuelke – 2nd, Varsity Boys
- Anabel Miller – 3rd, Varsity Girls
- Addison Forrester – 5th Varsity Girls
- Bryce Natter – 5th, Varsity Boys
Junior Varsity
- Gerrit Boer – 4th, JV Boys 9-10
- Bodelle Spearman – 5th, JV Girls
Novice MS/HS
- Easton Roberts – 4th, Novice Boys 7
Advanced Elementary
- Luke DeWall – 1st, AdvEl Boys
- Reese Drajka – 5th, AdvEl Girls
Upper Elementary
- Sammy Weaver – 1st, Upper El Girls
- Ava Martin – 5th, Upper El Girls
Lower Elementary
- Grant DeWall – 1st, Lower El Boys
- Owen Eves – 3rd, Lower El Boys
Other Finishers – Heritage Park
Varsity
- Madine Whitmer – 6th, Varsity Girls
- Eric Hoffman – 18th, Varsity Boys
- Silas Ondersma – 19th, Varsity Boys
- Jacob Boon – 25th, Varsity Boys
Junior Varsity
- Drake Marine – 8th, JV Boys 9-10
- Haydon Frehr – 13th, JV Boys 9-10
- Flo Loewen – 19th, JV Boys 11-12
- LJ Nykamp – 20th, JV Boys 9-10
- Levi Minnerick – 30th, JV Boys 9-10
- Jeremy Blocker – 32nd, JV Boys 9-10
- Bridger Hoogeveen – 40th, JV Boys 9-10
Advanced Middle School
- Brevin Martin – 7th, AdvMS Boys
- Marley Marine – 8th, AdvMS Girls
- Henry Wert – 14th, AdvMS Boys
- Carson Andrews – 15th, AdvMS Boys
Novice MS / HS
- Brigid Whitmer – 6th, Novice Girls 6-8
- Desiree Tuohy – 7th, Novice Girls 9-12
- Braydon Fornier – 11th, Novice Boys 7
- Owen Leitow – 14th, Novice Boys 6
- Jack Elms – 15th, Novice Boys 8
- Landen Todd – 16th, Novice Boys 7
- Henry Mears – 17th, Novice Boys 9
- Brayden Todd – 24th, Novice Boys 10-12
Advanced Elementary
- Matia Battjes – 6th, AdvEl Girls
- Will Hughes – 7th, AdvEl Boys
- Kellen Carpenter – 8th, AdvEl Boys
Upper Elementary
- Erin Hughes – 7th, Upper El Girls
- Harper Roberts – 9th, Upper El Girls
- Olivia Leitow – 11th, Upper El Girls
- Jakob Boer – 15th, Upper El Boys
- Jensen Dew – 31st, Upper El Boys
Lower Elementary
- Jordan Deras – 6th, Lower El Boys
- James Broughton – 7th, Lower El Boys
- Finn Tyron – 11th, Lower El Boys
- Evan Leitow – 19th, Lower El Boys
- Isaac Lilly – 29th, Lower El Boys
- Adreian Blaszczyk – 30th, Lower El Boys