MN High School Cycling League To Host Middle School Competition This September

For the first time, middle school students in grades 7 and 8 will be allowed to compete in the Minnesota High School Cycling Leagues’ high school mountain bike racing program as part of a pilot program approved by the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.

Locally, Armstrong High School's Mountain Bike Club is one team listed as part of the pilot program.

And now middle school students can register with the MN League and compete in a single middle school-only race to be held between the Girls and Boys division races at a competition Sunday, Sept. 29, held at Hillside Mountain Bike Park in Elk River.

Since 2001, the Associaion leagues have only allowed student athletes in grades 9-12 to compete in their high school mountain biking competitions, although each league has reported being asked by parents repeatedly to add middle schoolers. From NICA’s perspective, allowing middle schoolers to join existing high school mountain bike racing teams seems a logical evolutionary step.

"There’s a lot of recruiting going on as middle school students grow into high school students," said MN League Director Gary Sjoquist. "It’s important to NICA’s growth to capture these students before they’re lured into traditional sports."

MN League’s Middle School Pilot Program details are now posted to the MN League website. Questions about the Middle School Pilot Program, or about the MN League, can be directed to Sjoquist.

(Information provided by a MN MTB press release.)