Monday, May 12, 2025
RANDOLPH – The second race of season five of Kansas NICA’s mountain bike race series was held at a scenic new venue, Fancy Creek State Park at Randolph, KS. Nestled among the breathtaking landscapes of the Flint Hills north of Manhattan, the athletes experienced an exhilarating mix of challenging terrain and scenic beauty. The ‘Crankin’ the Creek’ NICA race held on April 13, hosted eleven teams for a warm breezy weekend. Student athletes joining the Raptors came from Topeka, Emporia, Hutchinson, Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, Louisburg, Olathe, Lindsborg, and Great Bend with 162 athletes racing bikes.
The festivities began at 9:30 a.m. with junior high boys and completing two laps for 8th grade was Clayton Underwood coming in at 7th place. Racing in the 7th grade boys category completing 2 laps was Austin Rothenberger in 25th. The race laps were approximately a 2.5 mile loop of single track, winding through trees with additional spots of technical rocky hill climbs.
Racing for the lady Raptors were Olivia Dail placing 5th in the JV category with four laps. Sophomore Abby Rigney followed with 5th place completing three laps. The Freshmen lady Raptors followed with Izabell Dail in 2nd (4 laps), Addisen Schreiber in 4th (3 laps) and Chloe Helus in 9th with one lap. Emmalee Dail finished in 8th place with two laps in the 7th grade category to sum up the lady Raptors.
In the Varsity boys division, Harlan Pancost came in 5th place with 5 laps and Isaac Palen finished in 9th with 4 laps. The Raptor’s JV boys competing were, Luke Hollerich placing a 3rd podium finish, and Colton Jeardoe placing 6th, both with four laps. Parker Williams led the Freshmen boys by placing 4th (5 laps), Brodey Schreiber 16th (4 laps), Luke Hartsock in 20th (3 laps), Caden May in 22nd (3 laps) and Zane Betzold in 23rd (2 laps).
“The ‘Crankin’ the Creek’ mountain bike race held at Fancy Creek State Park was an excellent venue for our second race. Our Raptors rode tough, experiencing some new technical features they all saw for the first time at this new race course,” said Coach John McClure.
For more information about joining the team or to join as a coach, visit www.facebook.com/NCKRaptors. For more information about the Kansas League, visit www.kansasmtb.org
