CLEVELAND, GA -- This past weekend, the Walters State Cycling team competed in the SECCC Conference Championships to end their season and showed how much the team has grown throughout the season.  

The team consisting of two members at the beginning of the season, Hayden Sinnamon and Carter Dickerson, grew by one adding their first female rider, Jessabelle Spencer, mid-season.  All riders grew throughout the season and really showed that growth in the last race of the season.

Jessabelle, who joined just before the Lees McCrae race and was new to the racing scene, competed in two races at the conference championships finishing fifth in both.  In the Short Track Cross Country Race (STXC), she came from behind to edge out the University of Florida to take 5th place.  Her grit and determination to give everything she had left, after a grueling race on Saturday, proved to be the winning combination to end her season on a high note.

Carter, who joined the team in June, was also new to racing.  He worked hard over the summer to prove he was ready for the season.  His experience and performance growth throughout the season has been fantastic.  This past weekend, he achieved his best finishes of the season finishing 17th and 16th in the Cross Country (XC) and STXC respectively.  This was a tough course and a strong field of competitors this weekend.  Even after suffering several mechanical issues in both races, his prep and performance throughout the weekend is leagues ahead of where he was just four weeks ago in his first race.

Hayden, who has been with the team since its inception last January, has made tremendous strides since the road season. Finishing fourth in the criterium last spring during the road season, he came into this season as a new mountain biker.  His training from the road season and during the summer allowed him to come into this season in great form.  He improved each race this season starting with 11th at Peidmont's XC to 6th at Auburn's STXC, 5th at Lees Mecrae's XC and 4th in the SECCC XC.  

However, Hayden saved his best performance of the season for last winning in the STXC and becoming the Class C STXC Conference Champion.  

"I am extremely proud of this team and how far we've come in such a short time," Walters State cycling coach Brian Lassiter said. "We've grown the team and have our first female rider, which was one of our goals for this season.  This team's dedication to get better is a huge part to our success.  They never settled for staying consistent, they've always strived to improve upon their previous performance.  I couldn't have asked for more this season because they were already giving it."

The team plans on taking this week off as they plan and prep for the next season.  They are also welcoming one new rider to the team, Kayden Wilson, who will begin his training with the team this winter in prep for the road season. 

"We're excited to welcome Kaden to the team," Lassiter said. "He has shown good excitement to start this post season and we're looking forward to seeing him out there on the road. 

"Opportunities are starting to open up for us as we continue to perform well.  We are in talks with a few sponsors that we are looking to partner with this year.  Along with those opportunities, we have seen an uptick in the interest in the team and look forward to welcoming more Students Athletes to the team this winter. I continue to stay excited with where our team is going and am anxious to see what we'll look like next road season."

If anyone is interested in being apart of the cycling team and having the opportunity to compete during the road season, please reach out to Coach Lassiter:  brian.lassiter@ws.edu.

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics