Spartanburg County’s youth mountain biking scene is thriving, thanks to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and its efforts to grow the sport across the U.S. Founded in 2009, NICA promotes mountain biking for middle and high schoolers by fostering teamwork, outdoor exploration and fitness. The organization runs leagues in 32 states, with the South Carolina league being one of its strongest, boasting 23 teams statewide, including three in Spartanburg County, one of them being Spartanburg High.
Bennett Salley (9) likes the bike team because it is something different than other sports.
“I think that the mountain bike team is cool and interesting. It is fun and it gets you in shape. My favorite memory is playing footdown, which is a game where you try to not put your foot down while balancing on your bike, in the parking lots at practice,” Salley said.
In the past, Spartanburg County had just one main NICA team, the Spartanburg County Composite Mountain Biking (SCCM). However, last year, SCCM split into three teams: Spartanburg High School, Dorman High School and the preexisting SCCM team. The team practices at Croft State Park, a local trail system that’s outside Spartanburg. Though these teams now compete separately, they still practice together to maintain a sense of unity.
Tucker Cartwright (9) likes seeing how the team has branched off and grown bigger.
“When I heard that SHS had a mountain bike team, I was shocked that a team so small in its first year became an organization with multiple teams branching off of it such as SHS, DHS and composite,” Cartwright said. “My favorite memory of being on the team was when I got my first Podium (Top Five). Seeing all the hard work pay off and show in the race gave me so much joy and accomplishment.”
The season runs from September through mid-November, with five races scattered across South Carolina. After four weeks of competition, Spartanburg High School is dominating the high school category in first place, ahead of Greenville High School and Fort Mill High School. The Spartanburg team includes riders from Spartanburg High School, McCracken Middle School and even homeschooled students in District 7.
With only one race remaining, Spartanburg High aims to keep its momentum and earn first place in the high school team category. Their lead is a testament to the impact of NICA’s mission to “build stronger minds, bodies, character, and communities through cycling,” and the team’s hard work, unity and dedication to the sport.
