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Draper Journal

Corner Canyon mountain biking squad just keeps on growing

Oct 04, 2018 12:35PM ● By Jana Klopsch

Corner Canyon High again boasts the nation’s largest mountain biking team. This year’s squad has 163 riders. (Photo courtesy Whitney Pogue)

By Catherine Garrett |  HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected]

The Corner Canyon High mountain biking club has laid claim in recent years to being the largest in the country, and the numbers aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

This year’s team boasts 163 riders, most of whom were on the second-place team at last year’s state championships. 

“It was pretty close last year,” senior Kendyl Nelson said. “We want to win state and we have some really strong, talented riders that can do it this time.”

Head coach Whitney Pogue credits her riders for their year-round commitment to the sport. “We have lots of strong kids who have been working hard all summer and it shows,” she said.

Corner Canyon will compete in the new Central Region, one of three regions that have been created the past few years to accommodate 71 teams statewide. Pogue said her team has nearly 70 riders more than the next team’s numbers within the region.

“The sport has really developed and our team has really developed,” Nelson said. “Everyone’s getting really good and putting in more time beyond the high school season.”

In the team’s first race of the year at Soldier Hollow Aug. 18, Corner Canyon placed first as a team. Max Miller and Kirsty Helzer finished in fifth place among the varsity boys and varsity girls respectively.

Riders coming in first were Morgan Bethers in the sophomore girls division, Andrew Bedell in sophomore boys and James Sybrowsky in freshman boys. Other top 10 finishes were Mya Graham (second, freshman girls), Keaton Larrabee (second, sophomore boys), Mia Menlove (second, JV girls), Brooke Meyers (third, JV girls), Ethan Lassiter (third, JV boys), Jamie Tubbs (third, sophomore girls), Braxton Zarbock (third, sophomore boys), Amber Griffin (fourth, freshman girls), Kyson Montague (fourth, JV boys), Mckay Horsley (fifth, freshman boys), Parker Pogue (fifth, sophomore boys), Zac Barnes (sixth, JV boys), Ben Owen (sixth, sophomore boys), Kenton Jeppson (seventh, freshman boys), Sam Hanks (eighth, sophomore boys), Jona Serrell (eighth, JV boys), Caden Davey (ninth, JV boys), JJ Overbaugh (ninth, sophomore boys) and Jaeden Loeser (10th, freshman boys).

Nelson, who returned from a year off due to illness, also placed seventh in the girls varsity division. “That was really big for me,” she said. “I had no training under me, so I was really happy to just be out there and do well.”

At Snowbasin Sept. 1, Nelson placed fifth in the varsity girls division while Josh Griffin also finished fifth in the varsity boys class. First place finishers for Corner Canyon were Bethers in the sophomore girls division, Graham for the freshman girls, Lassiter in the JV boys, Larrabee in the sophomore boys and Sybrowsky in the freshman boys division.

Other top placers were Bedell (second, sophomore boys), Meyers (second, JV girls), Tubbs (third, sophomore girls), Zarbock (third, sophomore boys), Menlove (fourth, JV girls), Parker Pogue (fourth, sophomore boys), Serrell (fourth, JV boys), Tess Broadbent (fifth, freshman girls), Kenton Jeppson (fifth, freshman boys), Kyson Montague (fifth, JV boys), Mayci Nelson (fifth, sophomore girls), Owen (fifth, sophomore boys), Barnes (sixth, JV boys), Cail Alles (seventh, JV boys), Horsley (seventh, freshman boys), Parker Sanderson (seventh, sophomore boys), Walker Dunbar (eighth, freshman boys), TJ Haselton (ninth, freshman boys), Overbaugh (ninth, sophomore boys) and Tanner Ricks (10th, freshman boys).

“We had lots of success at Snowbasin,” Pogue said. “We did have a lot of flat tires, but we still had some great performances.”

Freshman Logan Alsop was recognized by the Utah High School Cycling League for his sportsmanship during the race. 

“He consistently stopped along the course to help other riders who were having troubles,” Pogue said. “In the end, his race was cut short because he took too long on his lap helping everyone out. What an awesome kid!”

At a race in Vernal Sept. 15, Corner Canyon took first over Westlake and Bingham.

“It was a hot, dusty and a really fun day for the Chargers,” Pogue said. “There were lots of Chargers on the podium.”

Brooke Miller placed first in JV girls while Parker Pogue also won in the sophomore boys division.

Other top placers for Corner Canyon were Andrew Bedell (second, sophomore boys), Morgan Bethers (second, sophomore girls), Mya Graham (second, freshman girls), Ethan Lassiter (second, JV boys), Kenton Jeppson (third, freshman boys), Keaton Larrabee (third, sophomore boys), Mia Menlove (third, JV girls), Max Miller (third, varsity boys), Kendyl Nelson (third, varsity girls), Janie Tubbs (third, sophomore girls), Kirsty Helzer (fourth, varsity girls), Kyson Montague (fourth, JV boys), Mayci Nelson (fifth, sophomore girls), Ben Owen (fifth, sophomore boys), Caden Davey (sixth, JV boys), TJ Haselton (sixth, freshman boys), JJ Overbaugh (sixth, sophomore boys), Walker Dunbar (seventh, freshman boys), Braxton Overbaugh (seventh, sophomore boys), Aaron Box (eighth, sophomore boys), Tanner Ricks (eighth, freshman boys), Jona Serrell (eighth, JV boys), Cail Alles (10th, JV boys) and Ethan Shearer (10th, sophomore boys).

Corner Canyon has a final race at High Star in Kamas Sept. 29 remaining this season before the state championships Oct. 19–20.

“Everyone is friends and you make so many more friends all the time,” Nelson said. “Race day is really magical and we all connect in a unique way.”

Pogue is assisted by Jamie Pogue, Paul Andersen, Jeni Andersen, Rosie Hancey, Jill Cheney, Ty Montalvo, Mikelyn Montalvo, Steve Saxton, Alex Armstrong and Daniel Bowen on the coaching staff.