During this year’s National Interscholastic Cycling Association Championship event, the Eureka Springs Highlanders Mountain Bike Team rode the most mentally and physically challenging courses that they’ve had to endure.
“Past NICA courses were a breeze in comparison featuring grassy fields and limited climbs,” Head Coach Shawna Miller said. “This course featured a steep start with multiple hills, a fast and winding downhill, various grueling boulder gardens, and a black diamond uphill climb (a World Cup trail normally meant for downhill-only rides) totaling 350 feet of elevation across the course, making it truly worthy of being the final test for every NICA athlete this season.”
Miller said that Eureka Springs riders excelled at this course as a result of training on similar trails at The Great Passion Play. Advanced technical skills were required to avoid mechanical issues such as thrown chains or flat tires, which riders must fix independently to avoid a penalty.
For the first time, the Highlanders had varsity riders. Miller said to reach the title of Varsity, riders need to have progressed all the way up through the ranks, which takes dedication and mastery of the craft. Winona Milwagon and Kyler Erickson have been on the team from the beginning, starting as 8th graders three years ago, and both got on the AR Regional Championship podium. Milwagon was named 4th Overall for Varsity Females and Erickson was named 5th Overall for Varsity Males. Amber Kirk also rode in the Varsity division and was second highest scorer for Eureka Springs.
Rounding out the podium and point scoring spots for this record-breaking year were Jenna Erickson, Melanie Smith, and Rowan Beattie (5th, 7th, 10th for JV3), Abi Killion and Laynee Dejarnette (4th, 5th for JV2), and Oen Evans, Corben Brand, Dakota Linder, and Brayden Cox (5th, 9th, 10th for JV2).
Miller said the mountain bike team is so much more than just competition. “The members build camaraderie, mental strength, sense of community, a love for the outdoors and the ability to approach and conquer difficult things,” she said. “If you are sad, go get on a bicycle and everything will be better!”
They earned the #1 spot in Trail Core for both the girls’ and boys’ divisions for the 2024 season. The National Scholastic Cycling Association is unique in that it offers points for both performance in races and bicycle related community service – otherwise known as Trail Core. The Eureka Springs team also has the distinction of having the highest percentage of females of any NICA team in the state of Arkansas, at 57 percent. Milwagon received special recognition with a GRIT Award (Girls Riding Together), for going above and beyond to support other females in mountain biking.
For the 2024 season, NICA decided to no longer lump the girls and boys scores together. The Eureka Springs Girls won 2nd place for three out of four of the races and 3rd overall for the season. First place overall for the season went to Bentonville schools for the second year in a row. The Eureka Springs Boys came in 7th place overall, a real accomplishment considering how new most of the boys are to mountain biking.
The group does more than cycling. They put in more than 530 hours of community service this season, including many hours of maintaining bike trails, volunteering at the Eureka Springs after school program (in an effort to ensure that every kid who graduates knows how to ride a bike) and helping to set up the races.
Eureka Springs School District Superintendent Bryan Pruitt said he is impressed not only with how well the team has done competing but that they also do a great job representing Eureka Springs being courteous, receptive and willing to help at the competitions.
“That is a big plus for us as well,” Pruitt said. “It is a great group that we have here. There is the possibility for some of these students to compete on the collegiate levels next year, and that is exciting for kids who are graduating. There are some scholarships that are available. And one thing I like about sports is that participating in sports in school often leads to people being involved in sports lifelong.”
Eureka Springs has some great mountain bike trails including ones at Passion Play and at the school. Pruitt said those are great areas to train.
He sees the program has academic benefits by keeping kids involved in a school activity they enjoy.
Pruitt said a lot goes into making sure the bicycles are safe. The school purchased a cargo trailer to transport the bikes to competitions.