Mountain bikers win state

The Nevada Union Independent Mountain Bike Team captured the 2005 State Championship Sunday afternoon at Folsom Lake, edging rival Redwood High by 381 points. Two Nevada Union riders also won individual titles at the race.

Sophomore Sarah Ely broke an all-time league record and completed her perfect season winning her sixth-consecutive JV girls race and the League Series Championship for her division.

Despite finishing second in the state championship meet, senior Matt Wittler collected enough points to take home the varsity boys League Series Championship. Also finishing in the top 10 in the race and in the series were senior Kyle Wright and Kurt Schimmel.

Wright finished seventh at the state race and 10 in the series, while Schimmel was ninth in the state race and sixth in the series.

Senior racer Melissa Waters battled through a shoulder injury to finish third and end up second in the varsity girls league series.

Tyler Jennings, a sophomore riding in the freshman/sophomore girls division, took second in the state race and in the league series.

Three JV boys finished in the top 10 in the final rankings. Senior Geoff Hughes took sixth in the state race in addition to taking sixth in the league series. Junior Dan Frietas and Jason Boutte finished fifth and 10th, respectively, in the final series standings.

In the sophomore boys division, Justin Boutte finished fourth at the state race and finished the season ranked seventh in the league series.