Team Cartecay was honored at the Peach State Championships with all-star team, individual and coach of the year awards.
The Gilmer Cartecay Youth Mountain Bike Team enjoyed distinction and recognition at the Peach State Championships Nov. 6 in Milledgeville, winning the All-Star Team Award. The first such award in Georgia League history acknowledged Team Cartecay for displaying exceptional leadership skills, extraordinary sportsmanship and a commitment to their coaches, athletes and volunteers, providing service to their communities and consistently going above and beyond.
There are 65 teams in the Georgia Cycling League comprised of youth in rural, suburban and urban communities across the state.
The Cartecay squad placed fourth in the state in the overall points series, while the Cohutta squad placed 17th overall. The combined 30-member team, divided into two race squads, achieved outsized results disproportionate to overall team size. Consistency across all team members, deriving from a high-level of fitness, technical competence and strong team morale yielded the competitive overall point series finish.
Senior student athlete, Lorenzo Alonso, was one of two individuals awarded by the league with the Trailblazer Award, which recognized those who persevered through challenging circumstances, overcame adversity and are an inspirational role model to fellow teammates across the entire state.
Alonso was acknowledged for overcoming overwhelming medical difficulties yet compiling a team record for the most races completed, laps completed and years completed.
Alonso earned an invitation-only spot in the JV-1 category in 2019 and maintained that status throughout his high school career. This accomplishment is noteworthy given Alonso had at one point lost the ability to skip or walk due to a childhood malady. Only 15 percent of student athletes are invited to race in the JV-1 and varsity categories.
For the second time in five years, a Gilmer Cartecay coach was acknowledged as Coach of the Year. Team director and fifth-year coach, Laura Lea Alonso, was awarded the Coach of the Year distinction in recognition for her tireless work and commitment to the team.
Showing grit and determination, sophomore Louisa Alonso earned a fifth-place statewide ranking in the league’s overall individual point series in the JV-2 girls category. The result earned her an invitation to the penultimate JV-1 race for the 2022 season.