There are no balls, no bats, no courts, no fields or nets, just a mountain bike, and its rider.
It's a sport that most folks probably didn't know existed in high school athletics. Well, the Chestatee High School mountain bike team is changing the athletic landscape.
The War Eagle mountain bike team, a Georgia Interscholastic Cycling League member, has won the school's first-ever athletic state championship.
"We couldn't be more proud to bring a title to Chestatee," coach Loren Funk said. "Though we are not a Georgia High School Association sport, the (Chestatee) administration -- especially Mrs. (Susan) Jarrard and Mr. (Matt) Stowers -- have been so supportive and making sure that the kids get the same kind of recognition that those in traditional sports get."
The War Eagle mountain bikers captured the state title with first-place finishes in all five events this season. They competed against 26 high schools from around the state.
All teams in the league are made up of both boys and girls from middle to high school. Students earn points individually, and the top 4 point scorers from each high school team -- one of which must be a girl -- make up the team score.
Madalyn Dollyhigh and Jona Soper helped lead the War Eagles this season, along with Luke Dollyhigh, Jacob Funk, Ethan Popham, Bailey Spaduzzi, Kiki Abercrombie, Jessica Jackson, Levi Popham and Riley Tucker.
"We emphasized everyone doing their best because there were no guarantees that a leading rider wouldn't have mechanical or other issues to take them out of the race," Funk said. "I can't say enough about these students -- they always gave their best with the best of attitudes.
"The most satisfying part of coaching these kids is to see their improvement throughout the season. Mountain biking takes a lot of strength and skill, and to see a student accomplish something that they couldn't before is wonderful. The team part comes in with the more experienced riders encouraging the newer riders. That's what builds life long riders."
The championship will go a long way in earning the program recognition around the area. The Chestatee program is seeing growth not only on the high school level but in middle.
Right now, Chestatee has the middle school program has six racers -- Peyton Abercrombie (8th grade), Hayden Barroquiero (7th grade), Charlie Gammon (7th grade), Jackson Skelton (7th grade), Brayden Spaduzzi (7th grade) and Liam Budd (6th grade).
"One of the goals of our league is to get more kids on bikes and with this kind of recognition, growth of our sport locally is inevitable," Funk said. "We are very fortunate to have a new trail at Cool Springs Park in northwest Hall that the Chestatee and North Hall teams helped to build, so riding opportunities are closer to a lot more people."
