The new Grand County High School mountain biking team shifted into its first race of the season last week, competing on Saturday, Sept. 8 in Round Valley, Utah.

While only three of Grand’s bikers participated – all of them underclassmen – the team members showed their skills, overcoming technical difficulties to complete their races.

“We did wonderful,” said head coach Christa Green.

Freshman Preston Bagley rode home with most of the glory for the day. Bagley took first place in the freshmen Division II category, earning him ride-leader status for his next race, Green said.

“Ride-leader status means that he gets to start at the front of the line at the races,” said Green. “Which gives him that advantage after this race.”

Two sophomores – Jamie Marshall and Tyren Flanders – also competed on Saturday. Marshall suffered a flat tire partway through his race, but succeeded in fixing it himself and moved on to the finish line.

“That’s really a part of the experience, is moving past these things yourself,” Green said.

Green also praised Flanders for his race.

“He had a really good first race,” she added. “He had a race down with another kid so he was really working and pushing and he pushed it hard at the finish.”

Despite the low number of competitors from Grand, Green said she is happy with her team’s results.

“Right now we’re building the team… They’ve got their first race under their belts, and now they know what to look for in races. From here, they’re going to know how they want to train and how they’re going to need to train in order to maintain that level, since it’s going to be harder now,” Green said. “I think we’re going to have a much more intense level of effort at practices, since people are going to have a greater feeling of what they need to do, when they’re riding their best and when they aren’t and what they need to do to keep getting better.”

The Red Devils will next race on Sept. 22 at Sherwood Hills in Wellsville, Utah.