Case Cycling takes part in state championships; more events coming soon

Members of the Case Cycling team
Two days of rain preceded Saturday’s snowfall, which meant the entire course was thick mud by the time the first racers took to the starting line. The course, which featured multiple steep, slippery downhills and very long, slow uphill drags, saw many riders dismounting and running large sections rather than trying to ride through the mud. With the temperature at 24 degrees and snow falling as they started the 45 minute race, the conditions were far from ideal.

Case Cycling attended the Ohio State Cyclocross Championships on Nov. 23 and 24 in Broadview Heights at the Fields Parks. The roster included seniors David Takahashi and Eric Silverman, sophomore Matthew Swartwout, first-year student Evan Guarr, and graduate students Becky Schur and Anneke Frankemolle.

On Saturday, Nov. 23, Takashi won third place, with Silverman and Swartwout at fifth and sixth place, respectively. Additionally, Frankemolle took third place in the Women’s Master 30-34 race, and Schur placed second in the Women’s Senior 23-29.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, Guarr finished 23rd in the Men’s Category 5 race, while Schur won fourth in the Women’s Category 4. In the Women’s Category 1/2/3, Frankemolle took sixth place.

Case Cycling will have a busy next two weekends ahead before the season ends. On Dec. 7, the team will travel to Ohio Dominican University in Columbus to race in the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference Cyclocross Regionals. Then, the team will end its season on Dec. 14 at the Northeast Ohio Cyclocross Series Finale at the Cleveland Velodrome.

DSC_6209Back on campus, Case Cycling will host “Eat Good. Do Good” with local restaurant Chutney Rolls during the first week of finals. Chutney Rolls will donate 10 percent of all delivery sales to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the delivery will be provided for free by Case Cycling team members. Additionally, 100 percent of all tips will be donated to the foundation.

Those interested in learning more about the team can find information online at casecycling.com or at facebook.com/casecycling. The team, open to all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty, staff and alumni, has road bikes available for students without bikes on campus, and is always looking for new members—no experience necessary.

Any questions can be sent to Eric Silverman at eds47@case.edu, or Ryan Pierce, the team’s USA Cycling certified coach, at rmp31@case.edu.