Team Cartecay capped off its 2024 Season with a trip to Georgia Cycling’s MTB Fest and Peach State Championship.
The event was held Oct. 26-27 at Kingston Downs in Rome, and the event featured team relay races for coaches and students alike.
Student athletes Tony Aiello, Miles Slemons, Calvin Bash, Micah Slemons, Lazarus Alonso, Leo Alonso, Lucy Nell Alonso representing Team Cartecay Composite finished the East Conference relay in fifth place.
In keeping with the Georgia Cycling (GC) Spirit of cooperation and community, Cartecay’s Justice Giet, Elayna Broyles and Blain Farrow contributed their efforts with those from other teams to achieve a 15th place finish in a collective group called Team Composite.
The first race of the Peach State Championship had a slight delay, waiting for the sun to penetrate the trees sufficient to provide light for the eighth-grade boys. Team Cartecay had stellar performances turned in by Nicholas Cianciolo (eighth place), Miles Slemons (13th) and Justice Giet (28th). Lucy Nell Alonso finished 23rd.
Amidst rising dust clouds, Calvin Bash battled it out for a 55th place finish in the freshman boys category. Upperclassmen Micah Slemons and Lazarus Alonso raced to a 78th and 103rd finish in the very crowded JV-2 division.
All of Team Cartecay’s high school women raced in the elite JV-1 division. Isabella Cianciolo took a third place podium finish capping off a successful season. Seniors Clare Moore (9th) and Evangelina Giet (15th) completed their GC careers racking up a combined total of 36 podium finishes.
Coaches Nick Cianciolo, Larry Alonso, Aaron Broyles, Laura Lea Alonso pedaled furiously to a sixth-place finish in the East Conference Coaches’ Relay.
Team Cartecay’s director, Laura Lea Alonso, was presented with the GC’s Out of the Saddle Award, acknowledging an individual whose efforts were integral to the success of the GCA as a whole. Alonso was recognized for her years of commitment, dedication, expertise, enthusiasm and going above and beyond in making a difference within the GCA and Georgia.
Overall, Team Cartecay earned a top-10 ranking for its seventh year in a row, with a seventh-place finish in the state composite team category.
The team looks forward to 2025, with much excitement around the Spring 2025 launch of Gilmer’s new Trail Ranger Program for 3rd-5th graders. For more information, visit Teamcartecay.com.