BY KEITH WILSON

For the Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League, the race at Soldier Mountain thrusts itself into the forefront of the calendar as the course with the most vertical gain and loss. As it commences, a savage, unrelenting climb leads riders into a maddening descent.

Only those with colossal lung capacity and a fearless grip on their bikes dared tread this course with its creek crossings and sweltering temperatures. Its results show us that Wood River Mountain Bike Team has some talented, unrelenting riders.

Wood River girls conquered the scene. For sixth-graders, first place went to Isla Sundby while Payton Daley-Scheingraber took third. Piper Spengler was in first place for seventh-grade girls, and Tess Emery took first for eighth grade. For freshman, first place went to Zoe Libertore while Alyssa Huntsman took second place in the JV2 category.

Wood River boys also dominated, starting with Jett Vanbueren in second place and Dax Latham in fourth place for 7th Grade Boys A. Tait Boschen was in second place for 8^th Grade Boys A. For Freshman Boys, Drake Lovlien took third place. In the JV Boys 2 category, Kai Vannbueren took first place with Caleo Morrison following in second. Edyn Teitge was 5^th place for JV1. Then for Varsity Boys, Oliver Smith was in fourth place.

Lukas Paaske took second place for 8^th Grade Boys B, representing Sun Valley Community School.

Watch the team, ranked second in Division One, in today’s Eye on Sun Valley video, which includes footage from Adam Haynes of Photo Bravo.