Year: Freshman

Grade Point Average: N/A

Parents: Tina and Richard Meyer

Sport: Mountian Biking

Mountain biking is unique in that while the high school races are run separately, there are opportunities for students as young as elementary school to compete at their age level.

While Meyer is only a freshman, this opportunity to become involved at a younger age means head coach Nick Shaskos has known him since the program began four years ago.

“James was a pretty average rider for a while, through middle school, and he just exploded over the summer, he took his training really seriously. We’ve done four races so far and in the first race, he finished in fifth-place and that was with a crash at the start, which is podium for us, and in the last three races, he’s got first-place in all those races.

“Right now, he’s the points leader in the state for JV ninth-and-tenth-graders, so he’s doing really well.”

Mountain biking is a family affair for the Meyers, as James’ brother, Jon, is a junior and competes for the Dragons at the varsity level.

“Initially, my parents were pushing me to do it,” Meyer said of what drew him to the program. “My dad was already a pretty big biker, so he just wanted me to get into it. I went to one practice, and I really liked it.” — T. R.