When thinking about high school sports teams, mountain biking may not be one that immediately comes to mind. That said, the Mounds View Public School district has a rapidly growing mountain biking community, with more than 90 bikers and 36 coaches. The team centers around personal growth, such as leadership, confidence and individual goals.
The team welcomes riders from sixth to 12th grade, with experience level varying from beginner to skilled racers. Mounds View’s team was once a part of the Roseville Composite Team until splitting into its own group in 2019. The season starts mid-July and runs through mid-October.
This year, over 60 riders from Mounds View qualified to race at state, showcasing immense dedication and sportsmanship. However, when it comes to the athletes’ performances, no one is more proud than their coaches. Brent Bartel, one of four head coaches, emphasizes the development, not just accomplishments, as the greatest reward “The most gratifying part of being a coach is watching the transformation kids have when they get on the team,” he said.
The team consists of students who currently attend or plan to attend Mounds View High School, Irondale High School, and Totino-Grace High School. While this could create an opportunity for division, the team’s character shines through. “When we’re actually at practice, you can’t tell what school people are from,” said junior Laken Bartel. “Our tents are all set up next to each other and they use the spaces like it’s just one big team … It’s hard to tell a difference between who’s on what team.”
Through the late practices, team building exercises and scrapes, a deeply connected community formed. “When [others] do well, you feel excited for them, even though it doesn’t necessarily affect you,” Laken Bartel said. “From the cheering aspects during the races to the talking during the practices, you just get super connected. It genuinely does feel like a family a little bit. I remember a bunch of races where I was more excited about how other people did than I was for my own results.” It is this strong sense of community that brings Laken Bartel and so many others back each year.