“Wait, we have a mountain biking team?” This question is commonly asked when anyone mentions the sport, which has been offered at both Milford and Lakeland through a United mountain biking team since 2017. This season alone the team has a leading score of 5,017 points and beat Brighton earlier this season by over 200 points. The team earns points through their top six riders with at least one of each gender, the
most points come from varsity racers. This varsity sport has a different dynamic than most other sports teams. Their team consists of all ages from K -12, which benefits their program, allowing young kids to be involved early and letting them find the love and passion for the sport. Senior, Savannah Carnaghi loves her team’s dynamic, “HVUR is unlike any other varsity sport,” she said “It’s so much fun getting to cheer on the
littles (Elementary racers).”
Based in Milford, The Huron Valley United Racing team is a composite team under MiSCA (Michigan International Cycling Association). Their club season starts in May with one practice per week and continues into June with multiple practices. Races start in August. When they are in race season they have two practices per week. With twenty-four categories, race weekends are always busy. On
Saturdays, all elementary categories race and the varsity athletes will go for a preride to see the course. The middle and high school categories will warm up,
race, and go on a cool-down ride on Sunday. On average, the varsity athletes will race 17 to 21 miles, doing three laps of the advanced course, which follows a trail through the woods. There is a unique advantage to not only having a united team but also having athletes from kindergarten through twelfth grade on your team. Carnaghi has been a part of HVUR since her freshman year, therefore for the past four years, she has been able to bond and build friendships with not only the other seniors but many younger athletes. Talking more specifically about the varsity girls category, the girls have created one big family, “The girls in the group are so incredibly supportive on and off the race course.” These seniors have
paved the way for the younger athletes to look up to. Freshman Athena Carnaghi says “We’re going to lose so many seniors this year, I’m going to miss them.” Not only do the younger kids get to look up to them but they also look up to each other, Savannah Carnaghi said. “There are so many talented and dedicated athletes in the varsity, and I’m so incredibly proud to get to be a part of it.”
With HVUR’s special team dynamic and family-oriented teammates, it’s an amazing team to be a part of. HVUR head coach, Coach Darin, is such an inspiration to the program, he’s the glue that holds it all together. He’s the first one to show up and the first one to leave. HVUR deserves all the recognition and is always welcoming new members. If interested please go to hvur.org and get registered!