Team Athletic Mentors News

Torres and Braginton Bring in First Place Wins at Seahorse Challenge

June 4th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kathy Braginton, Team OAM Now Triathlete

Triathlon season officially began with the 35th annual Seahorse Challenge, the first triathlon in the Kalamazoo area. With the race held on Memorial Day weekend, and the cold winters we have experienced the last few years, racers never know what the weather is going to bring or what the water temps will be, thus creating the “challenge”. This year brought cool early morning air temps, a water temperature of 64 degrees, and no worries whether it would be a wet suit legal swim.

Seahorse features both Sprint and Olympic distance races. Each race follows the same course with the Olympic distance doing 2 laps in each discipline. Team OAM Now’s Kathy Braginton took on the Sprint distance, while Raquel Torres took on the Olympic distance. The Olympic distance started first with the sprint distance starting about 25 minutes later.

Raquel had a great swim leg and was exiting the water as Kathy’s race began. Raquel was the first woman out of the water with a 4 minute lead and kept that lead throughout the entire race. Kathy was the 4th woman out of the water after the swim and had a smooth T1 moving her into 2rd place. The first half of the bike leg features fast, smooth, and mostly downhill roads. Riders need to go hard the first 6 miles (miles 1-6 and 12-18 for OLY) and take advantage of the good roads because the second half gradually works its way back up those hills and has about a ½ mile stretch of rough roads where riders must use extreme caution.

Kathy went out hard the first half of the bike leg and caught the lead biker by mile 3. Building on that, she gained a 5 minute lead to be the first biker into T2 and the first runner onto the run leg of the course. The run leg features paved roads for the 1st mile (1st and 4th mile for OLY) and trail/grass for the remainder of the run. This unique run course features a foot bridge, a flight of stairs, and even 3 angry mother geese. Due to the many twists and turns of the course, it was hard to determine how far back the next racer might have been. Because of this limited visibility, Kathy tried to push the pace to maintain any distance between her and the next female. As a result, Kathy finished 7th overall and earned first place in the women’s sprint distance finishing more than 9 minutes ahead of the next female. Raquel was 4th overall, and the Olympic female winner, finishing more than 11 minutes ahead of the next female racer.

Overall, it was a great way to start the season with dual wins for Team OAM Now!

The post Torres and Braginton Bring in First Place Wins at Seahorse Challenge appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Fight, Survive, Finish…. Cone Azalia

June 3rd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Peter Ehmann, Team OAM Now Cyclist “Fight, Survive, Finish.” Those three words summed up the goals, at least my goals, of the 2015 Cone-Azalia Dirt Road Race. Sometimes the course profile makes the race; sometimes that distinction goes to the field or team tactics; this race, the main player was the conditions. “Brutal, Horrendous, Miserable, Epic, Silly…” All words, many not worth repeating here, floated around describing what all the brave souls who toed the line experienced on this epic slug fest. This day, just finishing had to be earned.

The conditions at the start were horrendous to say the least. Rainfalls overnight topped 2 inches on a 6.7 mile circuit that comprised 90% dirt roads. Dirt road is an overly kind description of the surface we were riding. The week or two before, the road commission laid down fresh gravel aggregate in the form of wheel and tire destroying golf ball+ sized gravel. In other places, standing water covered all but a tire width of the road. To top that, winds were blowing from the N/NE at 15+mph driving a steady rain that was constant. Head or cross-winds everywhere! Brutal! Oh yeah, it was also 48F on the last day of May! The P12 field was greatly undersized as expected due to the weather and surface conditions. Team OAM Now was well represented with Dan Yankus, Cory Stange, Collin Snyder, and me toeing the line. Almost the entire field was riding CX bikes, with Cory on a MTB, and one rider in the field on a road bike. The field unanimously agreed to shorten the race from 12 laps to 10. Thank you all!!! The whistle blew and after a brief 300m or so of neutral roll-out, game on! We hit the dirt and mud was flying and spraying everywhere! At this point, the act of breathing was inviting the fine “agriculturally fortified” Monroe County grit onto your mouth. Pleasant!! On top of that, simply seeing was a challenge – glasses very shortly became useless. The first split in the race came very early, within the first half of lap 1. The pointy end of the race was down to only 7 of us. Next, Dan took a huge flyer and was off the front for the next two laps. The group eventually reeled him in, probably to his relief with all the wind out on the course.

The seven of us (including Dan, Collin, and myself) remained gentlemanly for the next half lap. Then, the niceties abruptly halted as we transitioned from cross to tail-ish wind and the decisive splits of the race came along with the destruction of the rest of the field. The front three riders, including Dan, got the gap and went up the “road.” I was in the first chase with one other until that became a solo chase for me. A lap later, Collin bridged solo up to me and we rolled around the remainder of the race together. We worked together for the remainder of the race holding our 4th and 5th place spots. As the miles ticked off, Collin started taking up the lion’s share of the workload as I was falling into suffer mode (“Survive!”). I was on empty and not in a happy place. I can’t thank Collin enough for towing me to the finish at the end. That’s the great thing about great friends and teammates!

In the end, after nearly 70 miles and close to 4 hours in the saddle, Team OAM Now earned 4 out of the top 6 spots! Dan took 2nd place, Collin 4th, me 5th, and Cory soldiered on strong on his MTB for a solid 6th. Congrats to all those who participated and all those who finished! Now, for some much needed rest and hope for much better conditions next year! The post Fight, Survive, Finish…. Cone Azalia appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Patterson Takes First at Arcadian Grit and Gravel

June 2nd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM Now Multi-Sport

The elite men and women racers started together three minutes before the rest of the field. I was able to make a crucial break with part of the elite men’s field on the first climb and separate myself from the other female racers. I maintained this lead throughout the race and finished with a solo victory. I’ve been able to spend more time working on my bike handling skills this year and it has been fun to see it pay off in recent races.Four years since the inaugural event, this unique race on the coast of Lake Michigan has quickly become a staple in spring mountain bike racing. Arcadian Grit and Gravel is held in early May, just as the leaves are turning a brilliant green and the trillium are in full bloom. The course is a combination of gravel roads, two-tracks, a bit of pavement, and nine miles of single-track through the Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve. The race starts in the tiny town of Arcadia, on two miles of pavement before hitting the dirt. There are two significant climbs in the first 10 miles of the longer race to help spread out the fields before the narrow single track sections.

Arcadia was a short trip for my family to come and enjoy the race and a beautiful day. My grandma was especially excited to be on the support crew!

Check out some of the race pics here.

The post Patterson Takes First at Arcadian Grit and Gravel appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Frankenmuth’s Flat and Furious Road Race

May 28th, 2015 by Marie Dershem

Waking up to a cool, crisp morning, racers made their way to the quaint little town of Frankfenmuth for what proved to be a day of battling the winds and chasing down breaks. With roads that cut through wide open fields, this race is one where winds play a huge role. Pair that with a long, downhill finish, and it is a race who’s winner is never a foregone conclusion. This year, the Men’s Pro 1/2 field of 45 was filled with many strong riders, including TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors Chris Gottwald, Cory Stange, and Daniel Yankus. Eighty miles of flat and windy proved to be so demanding that only 22 of the 45 who started the race, actually finished. The attacks started early… and Dan managed to get into a small break of 4, gaining a minute on the field. Eventually, a group of 8 were able to bridge up to this small break. Though they stayed together for a short while, eventually this group of 12 widdled down to a group of 3 –with Dan being one of them. However, after responding to too many attacks, he fell off and was absorbed back into the now dwindling field. Realizing that the two riders up the road were too far to catch, Dan and Chris put the pressure on the field. There were 10 miles to go when Dan broke away with a group of 3 again.

With about 2 miles left, another small group of 3 bridged up to them and as this group of 6 were organizing themselves, one rider attacked and got away. As the remaining 5 in this break-away rolled into town, Dan laid down the hammer and came across the line first, landing a 4th place overall. Cory and Chris came in with the field and ended up 12th and 15th, respectively. It is truly amazing to see how this team works together to land a podium spot. Well done all! The women’s Pro 1/2/3 race started with a field of 19 women, including TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors teammates Marie Dershem, JoAnn Cranson, and Laura Melendez. After riding together for the first 5 miles or so, the attacks began. Only a few riders made attempts to get away, but they did so often enough to keep the race exciting. But, with a field of strong riders and a killer head wind, all of the break-away attempts were brought back into the field within minutes of creating a gap. So, after 60 grueling miles, the group headed into the final sprint together. JoAnn valiantly took the lead (a strong lead-out for Marie) and pulled the group along the last stretch of road before the last corner and downhill finish. Marie headed into the corner first, but underestimated the distance to the finish (and the strong headwind). At about 200meters to go, the strong sprinters in the group overcame Marie and she was unable to respond.

She had sprinted too soon. Marie placed 11th, JoAnn 15th… and although the finish was not what they hoped for, it was a great race and even better learning experience. Laura was unable to finish the race. TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors Junior Racer, Carson Lowell, raced the Mens Cat 4, one of the largest fields to start racing that Saturday morning. With 56 riders in the field, Carson had a difficult time managing to stay near the front of the pack. Getting frustrated being at the back of the field, he attacked on the grass along the side of the road to make it into the top 10 as the field headed toward the finish of the race. The group rounded the corner with Carson in the top 10, but he found that his gearing (regulated by USA Cycling) held him back as he spun out on the downhill finish. With no higher gears to reach for, he finished 24th… a respectable finish in a huge field. Good job, Carson! Two other TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors Junior racers, Tristan Greathouse and John Hurn, raced the Mens CAT 5, 35 and under race, with a field of 29. Facing the winds like all of the other racers, it turned out to be a tough race for both Tristan and John. John, unfortunately, took a spill during the race, but bravely hammered his way back into the pack, but was unable to finish the race. Tristan, with about 6.5 miles to go, broke away from the field and red-lined his way toward the finish. However, with 2 miles to go, he was caught by the field. To stay away from a large field, into a head wind, is a pretty amazing feat in and of itself. Realizing he went too early, he now knows that he has what it takes to win in a break-away if he can sit on his attack for just a bit longer. Tristan landed a 12th place finish. The 45+ Master road race covered 60 miles, which proved to be filled with a few breaks and long chases. Rich Landgraff, Chris Abston, Terry Ritter, and Mike Wyczalek all came together to see what they could do along these flat and windy roads. Early on in the race, a break of 3 riders got away, with no one from TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors with them. Mike and Terry, with a little help from Rich and Chris, worked hard to close down the gap, but in the process, two other riders were able to get away from the field. Continuing to work to close the gap, the team worked well together throughout the race until, finally, a Terry was able to break away and bridge up to the front group. This break- away group of 5 looked like they would take the top 5 podium spots, but the field closed in and the race came down to a final sprint. Rich got 5th in the field spring, Terry placed 11th, and Chris and Mike at 20th and 25th. Again, the unpredictable Frankenmuth with its flat, windy roads and downhill finish proved unpredictable. Well done all! The post Frankenmuth’s Flat and Furious Road Race appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Should Have. The Frankenmuth Story.

May 27th, 2015 by Marie Dershem

Do you see this awesome picture? It is a perfect picture of strong women sprinting to the finish after 60 miles of racing in Frankenmuth. You can see the pure grit on their faces. Standing up, giving their all. It is beautiful. My only issue with this picture is that it highlights all of the shoulds I’ve been carrying with me since that day. I should have tried different strategies to get away during those 60 miles. I should have used the wind to my advantage. I should have made someone else chase. I should have pulled less. I should have waited instead of charging the last corner and burning out early. I should have caught a strong wheel going into the wind on that downhill finish. I should have been easily seen in the picture… I should have been closer to the front. I should have. But, the truth of it is clear – as clear as the strength and power in this picture. I should have, but I didn’t. The rest of that Saturday, I replayed various race scenarios, detailing all of those shoulds. Basically, I beat myself up about the race. This, my friends, is not helpful. Then I went the opposite direction, channeling the Saturday Night Live character, Stuart Smalley…

a must see if you have no idea what I’m talking about (thus dating myself). But, my Stuart-channeling, self-affirmations weren’t genuine. I’ve never been good at self-promotion, even if it is just me promoting myself to me. Then, I really began to talk about the race with people who know how to race and have far more experience than I do. I talked about my frustrations. I talked about my shoulds. I talked about what actually happened throughout the race. And, these experienced racers helped me realize several things. First, everyone messes up the sprint finish sometimes. It’s alright. Second, I learned strategies and tactics that are actually really helpful that I can employ in my next race. And, third, I learned that I can be both a strong rider and not make it to the podium. Many good stories have either a good ending (which my Frankenmuth story does not) or a “moral of the story.” So, you’ll have to be happy with my “moral of the story.” Don’t should yourself. Learn something from your experience instead. P. S. This moral can be applied outside of bike racing. The post Should Have. The Frankenmuth Story. appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Sponsor Spotlight: Agility PT

May 26th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

Agility PT

This Kalamazoo County orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic offers comprehensive care for the athlete with services ranging from physical therapy to training and performance programs. Agility PT has been a Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors sponsor for 5 years. With the only Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in the Southwest Michigan Area and two Board Certified Clinical Specialists in Orthopedics on their staff, Agility PT delivers the same kind of excellence the Team OAM Now athletes hope to achieve. This type of drive and dedication to sport is well understood by 2009 Ironman Finisher and clinic Co-owner and Director of Clinical Operations, Scott Miller. Scott currently races multi-sport with Team OAM Now as a member of the Elite Club.

In keeping with their desire to serve the whole athlete, Agility PT sees its role as much wider than providing after care, or even performance analysis. Agility’s self-described mission is to have a positive impact on individuals across the lifespan, from beginner to elite athlete. In fact, they regularly sponsor a significant number of Michigan events ranging from local events like Kalamazoo’s Kal-Haven Ultra Marathon and Portage’s Winter Blast Half/5k to the Race for Wishes Road Race Championships and the largest cross county meet in the Midwest, the Portage Invite. Similarly, they also support local triathlons including the Gull Lake Tri and Shermanator. Partnering with regional and national organizations, as well as local businesses, allows them to expand their service knowledge and their ability to individualize treatment by providing contacts for complimentary services. Miller says “Agility and Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors have a common goal, which is to push individuals to their peak performance with class, superior knowledge, and a comprehensive approach. We are of like mind in that we lead by example. We are athletes working with athletes.” This level of dedication to athletics and support for their community meshes seamlessly with Team OAM Now values and goals resulting in a perfect partnership. Ed Note: The relationship between athlete and sponsor is often understated and oversimplified. Team OAM Now/AM does its best to make sure the relationship we build with our sponsors reflects its importance. We promote our sponsor’s brand, with professionalism, on social media including blogs and Facebook. We are active in the community and participate in over 75 community events every year to help our sponsors give back to community. We (the athletes) understand our sponsors’ services and brand, use their products and services, and refer business to them. In return, the sponsors help us develop young athletes, and create exposure and opportunities where those circumstances might not otherwise exist. For a sponsor, this kind of support is also an investment in someone’s dreams, a measure of faith in ability and determination, and a connection with the team’s values. For an athlete, the support given by a sponsor is invaluable. In fact, it’s more than support; it’s a vote of confidence; it’s an opportunity to achieve; it promises the joy of bringing along a “family” when there is triumph. For this reason, we’d like to take time to introduce you to our sponsors. We cannot thank them enough for their support of Team OAM/Now, its athletes, its goals and visions, and its values. The post Sponsor Spotlight: Agility PT appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

First Timer at Fifth Third River Bank Run

May 13th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Brian Reynolds, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete One race that has been on my bucket list for the past 5 years is the Grand Rapids Fifth Third River Bank Run. In previous years, both my training level and other races, such as the Kalamazoo Marathon, have interfered with the River Bank Run and I didn’t want to race unless I knew I could put in a good effort. I finally made my bucket list item a reality this past week. River Bank was an “A” race for me, so I tapered my training leading up to it. To make things more interesting, much like everyone else right now, my allergies were bad during training; I had a sore throat and achy body for a few days. Luckily, I felt better by race day.

On the day of the event, I arrived at Grand Rapids 1.5 hours before the race. With the thousands of runners and spectators, I was quite lucky to find a parking spot near the start. It rained the entire morning, but that did not stop thousands of runners from competing. I walked to the starting area, about 45 minutes before the race, and was soaked by the time I arrived. The temperatures stayed cool, around 63, so there were no worries about overheating. After warming up for about 30 minutes, I made my way to the start line. I talked briefly with a few runners who I knew and appreciated the start line atmosphere, which felt relaxed; everyone was smiling and chatting with one another. I lined up behind the elite runners, who started 30 yards ahead of the racing field. When the gun went off, the field spread apart quickly. I felt good and relaxed over the first mile. My goal for the race was to enjoy the experience and finish strong. To finish strong, I needed my starting pace to be conservative. For the first 5 miles, I was just under a 6 minute pace which is conservative for me. The effort felt easy, but it took awhile to find my rhythm. For miles 3 – 5, I had a interesting conversation with a 51-year-old gentleman named Eric who finished 3rd at River Bank in 1986 with a 1:33:28 (6:01 pace). After mile 5, the race chatting was over and it was time for me to get to business. It wasn’t until mile 7 that I settled into my real race pace. I crossed the halfway point at 46:03ish and my 2nd half was a 44:15 which is a significant negative split considering the 2nd half of the race is hillier. I got too aggressive on mile 11, when I ran a 5:33 mile which, unfortunately, tired me out for the next mile. In total, I passed 8 runners in the 2nd half of the race, and no other runner passed me. At mile 12.5, I had to cross a 4-inch deep water puddle that soaked my feet, resulting in blisters on the back of my ankle. I ended up in 40th place with a finishing time of 1:30:18; it’s a pretty solid time for me, given my training leading up to the race. Overall, besides the rain, the race was a great experience and I enjoyed the course. This is definitely an event I want do again, but in the future I’ll be in better running form. The post First Timer at Fifth Third River Bank Run appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Congratulations to Athletic Mentors’ Newest Ironmen & Ironwoman!

September 2nd, 2014 by Cheryl Sherwood

Not only did they become Ironmen and Ironwoman this week, but they did it with some extraordinary results! Check out their accomplishiments: Congratulations Toni, Max and Alex! You make us proud!

Alex Vanias: Finished his first full Iron at Michigan Titanium. His bike average for 112 miles was 27.5 mph!!!!! WOW!

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Max Wittenburg: Max is not only an Ironman, but this was his first Triathlon ever!!! No baby steps for this guy! Amazing job Max

Toni Daniels: Not only finished her first Ironman in Louiseville, but she did it with a PR in her swim of 1:05! This is an amazing swim !

Athletic Mentors’ Youth Development Team Seeks Young Cyclists

August 28th, 2014 by Athletic Mentors

As the cycling season draws to a close, as races begin to dwindle in number, many young cyclists who have now gotten a taste for racing, and maybe a win or two, start looking towards 2015. There’s no better time than the autumn to start thinking about next year’s racing and how to best train and develop one’s talent with an established, successful team and coaches like those offered by Athletic Mentors and Team OAM NOW. The development program offers guidance within the sport: mentorship, race support, training advice, strategy, technical advice, among other things. “We have the breadth and depth of experience, across all parts of athletic development, to make us one of the best in the business. Not only do we have a substantial track record of fostering some of the best cyclists in the country, but we continue to put our athletes on the podium,” says Cheryl Sherwood, Athletic Mentors’ co-founder and Team OAM NOW director. Alex Cropped

Athletic Mentors and Team OAM NOW boast a successful development program with proven results. Previous team members include: Pro Continental riders David Williams and Tom Zirbal, as well as UCI Pro riders Ted King, Larry Warbasse, and Brent Bookwalter. The established and recognized program fosters developing set teams within the pathway to higher categories (Cat. 5 to Cat. 4 to Cat. 3 and potentially the Elite team). The team pathway means a developing rider can stay with the team as they improve, while also interacting with future team mates and mentors. Now in it’s 10th year, the team has been through several name changes, Advantage Benefits/Endeavour, Priority Health, Bissell and OAM NOW, but the consistent managerial leadership, season to season, means the program is consistently funded and staffed. Athletic Mentors has the added advantage of also having high level participants in Road, Cyclocross, and MTB racing to provide needed guidance.

In other words, finding the right program is so much more than training.

It’s about finding the right leadership.
Former Youth Development Participant and current Team OAM NOW member Alex Vanias notes, “Cheryl [Sherwood] and Mark [Olson] have managed a pro cycling team so I knew they were professionals when it comes to managing teams. They also have connections in the pro world. Sometimes it is not just your ability that gets you to the next level, but also about who you know that can help get you there.”

It’s about finding a team that values its members and supports them and their goals.
Youth Development Coach Terry Ritter: “Riders developing within our program learn accountability, self-marketing, and proper conduct consistent with success on any team they may join in the future. The AM program prides itself on providing a full service and professional environment. We do things like sign contracts, have sponsor commitments, hold expectations for rider conduct, and give back to the community by promoting cycling and healthy lifestyles specifically. We have a track record to prove we’ve found talent, developed it, and then had it move on.”

It’s about finding a coach who understands your needs.
Alex Vanias: “My first year as a category 5 racer I won only one race. The next season, on the advice of a coach, I quit running and trained as a cyclist and moved to category 2 in a matter of weeks. The AM coaches are very thorough with their advice. They run tests to find your current level of fitness and form, and will prescribe strength training to work on your weaknesses. As a new triathlete with no previous swimming experience AM has encouraged and coached me to grow as an athlete. AM has done video analysis of my stroke to see where I am going wrong, and worked to find my optimal stroke rate. It’s about me and my goals.”

It’s about finding a team that nurtures a whole-hearted approach to team and training.
The OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors Multisport Team is populated by community-minded people from all walks of life. Although each team member is unique, there are some characteristics members have in common: character, integrity, and a commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Cory Stange, former Youth Development Participant and current Team OAM NOW cyclist notes, “For the first time in my cycling career, the team actually wanted to foster my fast finish as well as incorporate it into the plan for overall team success. This mentality of riding whole heartedly as a team and viewing any results team members achieved as a team victory was something completely new to me. It was something I had never experienced: teammates giving up their chances at overall success in order to give the team it’s best shot at winning. This sort of selflessness is rare. It’s not something you see very often on other teams at this level.”

It’s about becoming the best cyclist you can be.
Athletes are always welcome to approach the Team OAM/AM tent at races or apply through the team website here. Team selection process starts in October. We look forward to hearing from you.

Athletic Mentors’ Youth Development Program Builds Athletes and Team

August 27th, 2014 by Athletic Mentors

By Cory Stange, Team OAM Now Cyclist- Road Cat 2

Of all the road disciplines, criterium racing is the most dynamic. Emphasizing speed over endurance, crits are often won by the quick and daring. Despite believing I possessed all the skills necessary to succeed in the high speed world of crit racing, I struggled in past years to obtain the results I always felt capable of, at least until I began working with Athletic Mentors and Team OAM NOW.

Coming into 2014, and my first year with Team OAM NOW/ Athletic Mentors, everything seemed to change. For the first time in my cycling career, the team actually wanted to foster my fast finish as well as incorporate it into the plan for overall team success. This mentality of riding whole heartedly as a team and viewing any results team members achieved as a team victory was something completely new to me. Having the team dedicate themselves, near the end of a race, in order for me to sprint was a bit unnerving at the beginning of the season. It was something I had never experienced: teammates giving up their chances at overall success in order to give the team it’s best shot at winning. This sort of selflessness is rare. It’s not something you see very often on other teams at this level.

Even more surprising than the selfless nature of the team, I found myself riding for the results, and wins, I was accumulating for both me and the team. I’ve always believed in myself and the potential I had, but it wasn’t until joining Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors this year that I saw that potential come to fruition. It’s truly amazing how surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference. Last year, I finished third at one race and in the top ten at a few others. This year, I’ve won four races, garnered many top five finishes, several top tens, including the Pro Cat1/2 Michigan Road Series and the overall at the Wednesday night Waterford series.

So, what changed from last year to this year? Quite a few things, but clearly, the biggest change was joining Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors. Cycling can be as much of a team sport as you make it. Here at OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors I’ve discovered just how much a cyclist can benefit from riding with a true team. I can honestly say my results would not look the same this year if I hadn’t been so lucky as to get chosen to be a member of this great team.

No doubt teamwork in crit racing leads to success, but being part of a team leads to successes for everyone. Being a part of this team, in particular, has changed my riding, has changed my concept of team work, and what it means to be whole-hearted in sport.

If you’d like to apply to ride for Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors in 2015, click here for the application.