PA Scholastic Cycling League kicks off 2005 season

High school and middle school students from throughout south central Pennsylvania are starting the second year of their own bicycle racing league, heading to the Oesterling Farm in Marysville, PA on Wednesday, April 6, for the first race in this year's PA Scholastic Cycling League's (PASCL) spring mountain bike season.

A six week long series, with stops in Marysville, Carlisle, and Hershey, and culminating in a weekend championship on Saturday, May 21 for all PA students, will offer cross country, short track, individual time trial, and team relay challenges. PASCL categories mirror those of traditional school sports with Jr. High (7th-8th grade), Jr. Varsity (9th-10th), and Varsity (11th-12th) classes offered for both male and female athletes. Taking place on Wednesday nights starting at 6:00 PM, with registration at 5:30, these events are open to any and all PA middle and high school students.

"What we are trying to do is based on what is already done at the college level, but modified for Jr. High and Sr. High students," said Mike Kuhn, organizer of PASCL. "Our intent is to build a league just for secondary level students, make it easy for kids to get into and try out the sport, and get it into PA schools. I don't expect huge turnouts in any particular region just yet, but in a few years I hope we will see several hundred or more high school students racing road, mountain, and cross bikes in districts across the state. The biggest obstacles right now are informing schools, students, parents, and communities that this league exists and finding people to help expand the league."