Gunnison MTB Caps Remarkable Season with Near Podium Finish at State Championships

One point. That's all that separated Gunnison MTB from a spot on the Division 3 team podium at the Colorado High School Mountain Bike State Championships in Glenwood Springs. 

Racing against 37 of Colorado's top high school mountain bike teams, Gunnison delivered an outstanding fourth-place finish, coming up just one point short of third place Aspen/Basalt. With team scores calculated in the thousands, the razor thin margin was a remarkable finish to an already memorable season for the Gunnison squad. 

And while that elusive state championship podium will have to wait another year, there was plenty to celebrate. Several Gunnison riders turned in some of their best performances of the season, rising to the occasion against a deep field of Colorado's fastest young mountain bikers. 

Sophomore Sol Hausdoerffer led the way with an impressive seventh-place finish. Hausdoerffer has been battling all season, and she picked the perfect day to put together her strongest performance yet. Her seventh place result made her Gunnison's highest point scorer and helped put the team within striking distance of the podium. 

Freshman Luka Olmstead continued to impress in his first season of high school racing, finishing 15th in a massive field of 142 freshman boys. Olmstead has developed a knack for riding smart and consistent races. With steady pacing and well timed passes, he worked his way through the competitive field to cap his freshman campaign with one of his best results yet. Reflecting on his first season, Olmstead said, “We have such a fun and supportive team, and everyone is always stepping up for each other. It was a little disappointing to miss the team podium at States, but being there together was what mattered most. And we'll have another good chance next season.” 

Junior captain Delaney Olmstead had a more eventful afternoon. Olmstead found herself on the ground early after a crash. Rather than letting the setback dictate her race, she got back to work, using her strong technical skills to make up ground and finish a respectable 25th in a talented JV girls field. It wasn't quite the race she had envisioned, but it was a fitting example of the determination she's brought to the team throughout her career. 

Freshman Zoe Lee also had to dig a little deeper than usual. After a season of impressive results, Lee admitted she wasn't feeling her best on race day. Still, she managed to grind out a 19th place finish. “Sometimes the races where things don't

come easily tell us more about an athlete than the ones where everything goes right. Zoe showed a lot of grit out there today,” said head coach Madi Caster. 

Sophomore Walker Sovick rounded out Gunnison's five scoring riders with a 34th place finish, navigating some of the trickiest conditions of the day. With rain arriving while he was on course, the trails quickly became slick. Sovick put his skills to good use and stayed upright through the changing conditions to deliver a solid result. “Walker has put in the work all season, and it really showed. He’s earned every bit of this result, and I couldn’t be happier to see him finish the season on such a high note,” said Caster. 

Gunnison's depth was also on display, with Penny Owens, Claire New, Topher Lamar, Judit Hausdoerffer, and Senior Zeke New all putting in strong efforts to close out their seasons. 

Senior captain Owen Frazier wrapped up his four year high school racing career at the State Championships, after an untimely mechanical issue brought his final race to an early end. Rather than dwell on disappointment, Frazier chose to reflect on four meaningful years with Gunnison MTB.  

The fourth-place finish at States was the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Gunnison MTB this fall. The team reached the podium at all four regular-season races, finishing third overall in the Crystal Region. Perhaps the most impressive part of the team's success has been its balance. Experienced upperclassmen have provided leadership, while an exciting group of younger riders have quickly developed into podium contenders. That combination has helped Gunnison become a regular presence near the top of the Colorado League team standings. 

But for Caster, the team's success is about much more than points and podium finishes.  “Of course I’m proud of how we finished - one point off from third place as a team.  That’s an awesome finish! But what I’m most proud of is that the second our kids crossed the finish line, they were dropping their bikes and heading back out to scream their heads off for the next teammate. That’s the kind of stoke and camaraderie I love about this team.” 

That team first attitude has become a defining characteristic of Gunnison MTB, and it's a big reason the program thrives. And there's good reason to believe the team's culture and success will continue. With a talented group of returning riders, Gunnison has plenty to look forward to heading into next season.