In the McDonald County School District, you’ll find students competing in all the traditional athletics programs, such as football, basketball and baseball. But, thanks to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), which first started in Missouri five years ago, mountain biking is a sport that’s pedaling forward at a steady pace.
Igniting interest for the sport has been easier with how popular It is across the Arkansas stateline to the south. McDonald County Head Coach Greg Capps says, “Over the past decade, mountain biking has exploded in Northwest Arkansas, so much so it’s referred to as the mountain biking capital of the world.
“People travel from all over the United States to ride the trails that are literally in our own backyard. I knew that getting the club started would help our area become more aware of what is happening just down the street.
“I know the more local interest we have, the more likely we will be to have the support necessary to build more trails in our area.
Why should Northwest Arkansas have all the fun?”
Coach Capps says mountain biking is appealing to students because “mountain biking checks all the boxes. It’s easy to get started in this sport.
“It’s one of the few sports kids, parents and even grandparents can all do together. It’s something that can be done alone or with friends.
Capps continues: “Mountain bike competitors are unlike most other school sports. Race weekends typically begin on Saturday when teams set up their pit zone and take students on a pre-ride to get familiar with terrain and strategize how to best tackle the upcoming challenge.
“Races begin on Sunday morning and go throughout the day. Students race in a variety of categories based on grade level, skill level and gender. No matter what experience a student has, they still have a good chance of making it to the podium. Nobody rides the bench in our club.
“All students in a particular category start at the same time. The first five to cross the finish line make it to the podium. Points are awarded to each team, based on how well they place in the race.
“Students accrue points for each race they participate in, and overall winners are announced at the end of the season. Teams can also receive awards for participating in volunteer/trail work.
We also compete in activities like tent decorating and other various games.”
There is a wide range of skills and talents amongst students who take up this sport and
Coach Capps says, “I work with students who participate in multiple sports, and others who have never been active in their lives. My greatest satisfaction in coaching I when students realize they have an athlete hidden inside them.
“I’ve coached multiple sports, but nothing seems to unlock hidden potential more than I’ve seen with biking. I have students standing on the podium who never rode a mountain bike before the season began. The transformation is unbelievable.
“Some student-athletes join to help condition themselves for upcoming seasonal sports. Biking helps develop the heart, lungs, legs and balance in a way that is both fun and demanding and works well with other sports.
“As a club, students can attend other sports practice sessions without hampering their bike training. The beauty of biking is that you don’t need a group of people to go ride your bike, so if you miss a practice, you can always get miles on your own.”
When speculating what has led to this program’s development so quickly, Coach Capps says, “The McDonald County Mountain Bike Club is successful because it is both an individual and team sport. While we practice as a team twice a week, students are encouraged to ride bikes on their own as well.”
Coach Capps has seen firsthand from his own personal experience what makes this sport worthwhile, and he says, “When I started mountain biking in the 1990s, it was a game changer. I developed confidence and self-discipline and started making healthy decisions.
“If the mountain biking program can open up an opportunity for young adults to develop a lifelong habit that will do the same, then it’s purpose has been served.”
Being so heavily involved in the sport’s success in McDonald County is thrilling for Coach Capps. “I get to see students grow every week, but my proudest moment happens when a student crosses the finish line for the first time. At that point forward, they transform into a mountain bike racer.
“As a principal, I don’t just see these students on the trails. I see them in the hallways before and after a race. I would think it is just me, but our teachers confirm that the bikers carry themselves differently as they grow.”
The challenges the program faced in the beginning were surmounted by the business community. “We don’t have any trails in McDonald County and mountain biking isn’t the cheapest sport, so it wasn’t easy to get a program started here.
“We’ve been fortunate to partner with businesses that have donated bikes, food, uniforms, tents and many other expenses that have helped keep us competitive with bigger districts around the state. Thanks to sponsors, we’ve been able to meet the needs of all our student-athletes.”
Looking at the big picture, Coach Capps says, “We took a big step this year by branching out to the Neosho and Joplin areas. Neosho School District now has an official team, as well as Joplin and the surrounding area. I’m looking forward to seeing some amazing expansion of young and older bikers and trails in the future.”
McDonald County National Interscholastic Cycling Association Fast Facts
What: The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) started in Missouri in 2018. Team Leaders: Head Coach Greg Capps; his wife, Emi Capps, who serves as team director; and Beth Beck, Samantha Hobbs, David Staib and a great team of several more coaches.
Participants: The McDonald County Schools team started with five students in 2020 and has grown to 25 team members this year.
Age Groups: The program is for young boys and girls 6th-12th grades.
Training: Practice begins in August and the last race is the final weekend in October. Students typically train together two times each week. Practices take place at a variety of locations, including schools, Pineville Bike Park and Morse Park in Neosho, Missouri.
Schedule: There are five races during the season, including locations like Jefferson City, Kansas City, Rolla, Springfield and Warsaw.
Website: www.missourimtb.org