Picture this: over 70 pizzas piled higher than a mountain of bike parts, massive cakes that could probably feed a small army (seriously, we’re talking about a cake that would make even a birthday party for the Avengers look small), and cookies so plentiful they could have put Santa’s stash to shame! Last night was an absolute pizza-fueled spectacle as we celebrated an epic season with our Coyotes peeps. If anyone was worried about our carb intake, let me tell you: our excitement burned off at least a slice or two, and then some!
We kicked off the evening with a massive pizza summit, where each pie represented a unique racing strategy, some were as spicy as our fiercest competitors on the trails, while others were as classic as that moment when you realize you forgot your helmet. And guess what? We didn’t run out of pizza! In fact, we had so much that I think a few riders might have tried to run around with a slice in one hand and a soda in the other…talk about multitasking! 🍕🏁
Amid the pizza madness, we dove headfirst into a raffle extravaganza! One lucky winner walked away with a lifetime supply of hardened gummy bears (you know, the ones that could double as hockey pucks—seriously, they could survive an apocalypse). Or maybe it was just a very generous bucket that may or may not have required a small truck to haul! Who knew sugary snacks could be the ultimate power-up? At this rate, we might just start putting gummy bears in our water bottles for extra speed…after all, who wouldn’t want to zoom down the trails while chowing down on chewy nuggets of pure energy? Just imagine the look on our competitors’ faces when they see us bouncing by like sugar-fueled squirrels!
And speaking of snacks, let’s give a shoutout to Finn! He sort of listened to Mom and didn’t overindulge this time…or did he? We might need to check for traces of gummy bear residue in his pockets!
In the midst of our pizza paradise, we also had some monumental announcements! Drumroll, please…we officially volun-told Katrina that she is the Team Manager! Yes, you heard that right! Now she’s not just managing snacks; she’s managing ALL the chaos. IYKYK! And let’s be honest, it takes a true champion to wrangle this crew—especially when we’re fueled by pizza and gummy bears! I can already see her wielding a spatula like a lightsaber, ready to battle the forces of snack disarray.
Let’s give a huge shoutout to Coach Ryan, our newly crowned Race Day Prep Hero! Maybe next year, we’ll get him a cape and aviators because if anyone deserves superhero status, it’s definitely him! He’s like the Maverick of race day prep, swooping in to save the day while expertly dodging rogue slices of pizza, pig intestines, and random bags of chips flying through the air like they’re on a mission!
Coach Drew has leveled up from “newbie” to “superstar” faster than a kid can demolish a plate of cookies! With his infectious enthusiasm and knack for keeping snacks in check, he’s tackled race day like a pro. Rookie Coach of the Year!
Let’s give a big shoutout to our Coach of the Year Brett! Seriously, this guy has absolutely crushed it this season! From managing practices to race day chaos like a seasoned pro to making sure nobody ends up lost in a mountain of pizza, Cheers Brett—our Coach of the Year! Keep leading the charge and inspiring the pack.
A special shoutout to Jess for creating an epic slideshow that brought all the feels! Now she has to do it every year. Remember when I mentioned that you might get voluntold for something? Great example…LOL! At this rate, she might need her own fan club!
As we pedal into the next season, let’s give a shoutout to our incredible seniors who are trading in their bikes for diplomas!
- Drake Marine
- Bridger Hoogeveen
- Gavin Peters
- LJ Nykamp
- Henry Mears
These trailblazers have spent years shredding trails, inspiring younger teammates, and honing their pizza-eating skill. Thank you for making our team as legendary as your epic wipeouts! We’re definitely going to miss you all…but don’t worry, no one can truly replace your bike skills! Although we might just find someone to match your snack-eating expertise! LOL
Here’s how the awards unfolded in our celebration:
Team Awards:
- Most Improved:
- Elementary: Ryder (probably improved from burning the pasta to mastering pizza)
- Middle School: Ocean (from hey to “Let’s do this!”)
- High School: Gavin (the pizza-fueled beast)
- Tough as Nails:
- Elementary: Hadley (can take a tumble and still munch on pizza)
- Middle School: Kaitlyn (tough enough to handle our cookie overload)
- High School: Sadie (dared to ask if she could race on pizza alone)
- Sendiest:
- Elementary: Easton J (most likely to send a pizza order to the wrong address)
- Middle School: Owen R (always sending it with a slice in hand)
- High School: Camden D (the king of sending it while balancing a cupcake)
- Rookie of the Year:
- Elementary: Raylan (the newest addition to the pizza party)
- Middle School: Ryland (who doesn’t know how to handle the fame yet)
- High School: Kaden (because he clearly needed more carbs in his life)
- Pack Leader:
- Elementary: James (leading the charge for more pizza)
- Middle School: Reese (the unofficial pizza taste-tester)
- High School: Ray (because someone had to manage the pizza distribution)
Coaches Recognition:
- Race Day Prep Hero: Ryan
- Rookie of the Year: Drew
- Snacktastic: Katrina and Sue (now with the official title of Snack Supremes)
- Coach of the Year: Brett
Perfect Season:
- Reese achieved the a perfect season (with a slice of pizza in hand)
Season Highlights:
- 28 students earned a podium finish this season, with 16 achieving their very first podium!
- 7 students celebrated wins, with 5 securing their first-ever victory. Just think of the post-race pizza parties!
Legacy Recognition:
And finally, we recognized our racing veterans with the Legacy Recognition for those with over five seasons of pizza consumption and racing glory:
- Drake Marine (8)
- Henry Wert (7)
- Easton Roberts (5)
- Tristan Hubbard (5)
- Will Hughes (5)
- Sammy Weaver (5)
- Laila Hubbard (5)
- Landree Darnell (5)
Last night’s celebration was an epic mashup of pizza, cookies and pure stoke! Picture this: a pizza-fueled wonderland where laughter echoed, and every slice was a tribute to our triumphs (and possibly our questionable life choices). A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the festivities. Seriously, you all deserve a medal, or at least a slice of that pizza mountain we conquered!
So, what’s next on our adventure for some of us?
The Iceman Cometh… aka THE CATALINA WINE MIXER!
I also want to take a moment to give a shoutout to our incredible coaches, the rockstar parents, and our dedicated riders. I’m truly humbled to be nominated as the Chief Communications Officer for this amazing team. Sharing my passion for riding bikes with all of you makes this journey unforgettable. So, let’s keep the stoke alive and get ready for an even wilder season ahead! LFG!