Despite a slow start to the season that made a berth at nationals look more elusive than usual, the Cycling Owls came storming back in races at Brevard and the University of Florida and are once again leading the conference standings.

At Brevard the Wilson team was lead by Matt Williams, whose 9th in the Short Track and 5th in the Cross Country where his best finishes of the year. David Bishop and Dustin Schemel also rode to top 15 finishes in the Cross Country race - a six lap afair that featured over 700 vertical feet of silly climbing per lap. It was, to say the least, a sufferfest. Phil Martin lead the Wilson men in the Gravity events, finishing 8th in his second Dual Slalom race ever on s tight, technical course designed by local pro Chris Hernden. Alec Hamilton (Gravity) and Josh Cooper (Cross Country) also put in great rides in the B category, so look for them to move up to A's soon. Illeana Anderson, in her first A races, scored podiums in both Dual Slalom and Downhill for the women. Hanna Waldman was consistant all weekend too. Tallulah Winquist and Vanessa Emery led Wilson in the edurance races, snagging top tens all week long.

The next weekend Wilson made the 12 hour (one way) drive to Santos mountain bike park the race the flatlanders on their home turf. The trip was an XM radio sing along gone bad, or an awesome road trip, take your pick. Once in Florida, the team was put up by Ben West's family, it sure did beat the local Super 8. The racing also went well. Top Men's finishes included David Bishop (2nd-Cross Country and 4th-Short Track), Dustin Schemel (2nd-ST and 3rd-Time Trial), Linden Blaisus (3rd-XC and 4th-TT), Matt Williams (4th-XC), and Phil Martin (6th-Pump Track). Matt Williams and Ben West also came out of retirement from never racing Dual Slalom to score 8th and 13th respectively in the Pump Track. In the Men's B's Alex Hamilton and Josh Cooper are coming dangerously close to sandbagging status after earning top 3 results all weekend. The women came through too. Hanna Waldman won the Pump Track event, while Vanessa Emery was 3rd in the Cross Country and 4th in the Short Track. Nina Otter, in her first weekend as an A also rode to top 5 finishes all weekend. Still fueled by an incredible Asian dinner Saturday night thanks to Art's extended family, all that was left was the long ride home. A quick dip in the ocean was revitalizing, and thanks to plenty of caffeine and tic tacks, Art got the team home in time for Monday morning classes.

The points from both races were enough to put Warren Wilson on top of the Division II standings for the first time all year. Several individual riders are having tremendous seasons as well. Matt Williams is currently the top-ranked Cross Country rider in the Conference, and David Bishop is ranked third. Vanessa Emery and Hanna Waldman are leading the Wilson women. Vanessa is the Conference's 5th ranked Cross Country Rider, while Hanna is top 5 in both Dual Slalom and Downhill. With three races to go, hopefully Wilson can keep the fast finshes going.