Marian University Cycling Annual Report 2019 2 3 Letter from the Director

MARIAN UNIVERSITY CYCLING ANNUAL REPORT 2019 2 3 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends:

We have had another fantastic year here at Marian University cycling, and I always enjoy the opportunity to reflect on everything we’ve done in pursuit of our mission: to commit to academic accomplishment, team achievement, and personal excellence on and off the bike.

Education and human development are at the core of what we do with the Marian cycling team. Over the past five years, 95 percent of our graduates have found meaningful and stable employment within three months of graduation. We often hear that Marian student- cyclist graduates are well prepared in their fields of study, while exhibiting strong leadership and communication skills, along with excellent initiative and follow-through. We had eight students graduate from the program this year and jump right into the workforce in accounting, small business ownership, wildlife research, marketing, and medical practice, just to name a few. We’ve seen an uptick in overall team GPA and continue to push for academic excellence, balanced with the other aspects of the undergraduate experience.

Our commitment to developing young adults sees the staff working alongside faculty and a variety of campus departments and programs to watch over the overall well-being and physical, mental, emotional, and social development of the student-athletes entrusted to our care. All of this makes the job of a ‘collegiate cycling coach’ so much more than writing training plans and developing race strategy.

On the bike, collegiate cycling continues to be a landscape of quality competition that pushes us to be totally on point in preparation and execution. Several other programs have ‘upped their game’ and each event of the year is a showdown of talent, preparation, and detail management. The year-long omnium competition is potentially as exciting as ever before, with no less than eight different teams committing to all five disciplines of collegiate cycling. This has made competition at the national level diverse and exciting, and I am hopeful that the growth continues and brings in a larger audience.

Marian continues to cement an investment in the neighborhood with our operation of the Indy Cycloplex, the 42-acre city park that has long been a destination for regional- and national-level cycling programming and competition. In addition to our efforts to revitalize and beautify the grounds and merge natural landscape with the infrastructure of racing venues, we continue to develop all levels and ages of cyclists through our program and event offerings. With activity in track cycling, BMX, cyclocross, and community partnerships, we are bringing more and more individuals and their families to the park each season.

4 We host nearly 50 race days plus over 150 programming days each year, and have a number of loyal users and season pass- holders, but we continue to be dependent on generous donors to close the funding gap of maintaining the facilty. However, we continue to push forward on events and programs: from clinics on the velodrome and BMX track (which graduate 100 riders each season), to local BMX racing, to international- level cyclocross competition. We strive for excellence in our events and continually refine the way we schedule, execute, and wrap up the days when we welcome anywhere from dozens to hundreds of cyclists to the park.

Continuing the theme of providing opportunities for Marian student-cyclists and community members alike, the Power Booster™ indoor cycling studio at the Paul J. Norman Cycling Center on campus remains an important part of our operation. Serving as a ‘laboratory of sport’ for Marian and community cyclists alike, the Power Booster™ program provides work experience for team members as they teach classes, share recovery methods, and discuss racing strategy with Indy-area riders of all ability levels. In addition to experimenting with indoor training methods, Marian students are able to connect with juniors and masters cyclists alike as they grow their coaching skills and pass on knowledge to others.

Both on and off the bike, the student-athletes, community members, staff, and supporters of Marian cycling regularly demonstrate our mission of supporting each other, striving to be a strong team, and having a positive impact on the community, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

I am especially grateful this year, as I have been supported by the University and my colleagues to embark on a new journey, going back to my roots in education to pursue a Ph.D. in American studies with a focus on education in America at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, while continuing to lead the Marian cycling program. Combined with a new role in the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College as the program manager for City Connects, I have begun a multi-year process of training the next generation of leadership for the cycling program. I continue to guide and advise the younger staff, while I undertake new responsibilities over the next several years.

Luckily, I have several colleagues steeped in our program’s approach and philosophy who can continue to serve and connect with our student-athletes while I pursue my hopes and dreams through this new role.

The dedication of this coaching staff, the work ethic of our student-athletes, and the continued support of time, resources, and expertise from community and industry partners all form a solid foundation for Marian cycling’s past, present, and future successes.

See you on the bike,

Coach Dean Peterson 5 6 CYCLING TEAM: Quick Facts

CHAMPIONSHIP STATS

TRACK National Team Titles: 22 CYCLOCROSS National Team Titles: 7 BMX National Team Titles: 7 ROAD National Team Titles: 10 DI Team OMNIUM Titles: 7 CLUB OF THE YEAR Awards: 9 Midwest Conference ROAD Titles: 16 Midwest Conference MTB Titles: 6

Marian University 2019 TEAM METRICS student-cyclists hail from 24 states and

eight countries. CAN TEAM COMBINED GPA: 3.06 RETENTION: 98% NH ME OR MN CATEGORY UPGRADES: 30 WI NY MA Collegiate and domestic categories, all disciplines MI IA PA NJ UK OH ACADEMIC ALL STARS: 17 IL IN Riders with a 3.50+ term GPA and selected to CO MD MO CA KY compete at a National Championship

AZ SC GRADUATES: 8 AUS

TX

ECU MEX FL NZ

SA

SPECIAL PROGRAMS, FOCUS, PROJECTS

• SCHOOL FIRST: Student comes first in “student-athlete” • UPPERCLASSMEN MENTORING PROGRAM: Pairs new students with an experienced rider • STUDENT MECHANIC PROGRAM: Scholarship for non-racing team members to assist as race mechanics • SAFETY: Multi-year plan to increase student-cyclist safety and reduce collision risks with kits, helmets, and lights • COACHING: All riders use Training Peaks™ • WORK EXPERIENCE: Internship and community engagement opportunities with Indy Cycloplex, Power Booster™, and community partners 7 CYCLING TEAM: Competitive Success 2019 TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Collegiate Varsity BMX Desoto, Texas; April 2019 Collegiate Varsity ROAD Augusta, Georgia; May 2019 Collegiate Varsity TRACK Rock Hill, South Carolina; September 2019 2018-19 Collegiate Varsity TEAM OMNIUM CHAMPIONS

2019 TEAM EVENT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Road Nationals: Women Team Time Trial (Beatty, Morris, Rathbun, Swartz) Track Nationals: Men Team Pursuit (Bickmore, Butsavage, Green, Strong) Track Nationals: Co-Ed Team Sprint (Bock, Bickmore, Butsavage, Cantu, McDade, Strong)

2019 INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

BMX Nationals: Women Individual Title, Jamie Windholz Road Nationals: Men Varsity Road Race, Cade Bickmore Track Nationals: Men 1km TT, Cade Bickmore Track Nationals: Men Individual Pursuit, Cade Bickmore Track Nationals: Men Points Race, Hayden Strong Track Nationals: Scratch Race, Hayden Strong Track Nationals: Men Individual Omnium, Hayden Strong Track Nationals: Men Sprints, Peter Bock

8 CYCLING TEAM: More Than Athletes Team mission statement: The Marian University cycling team develops student cyclists into life-long leaders and learners who commit to academic accomplishment, team achievement, and personal excellence on and off the bike. ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS Marian student-cyclists participate in a variety of campus activities, clubs, and events, including: • Student Government Association • Speech and Debate Team • Student-Athlete Advisory Council • Olympic Weightlifting Team • Presidential Ambassadors • Mentoring at Cold Spring School • Special Olympics • Dean of Business Advisory Council COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT • Thrive Gala • Clayton Family Circle of Honor Several local and regional organizations Induction Dinner benefit from connections with Marian cycling:

• Midwest Devo • HMBA/Southwestway Park Trail System • Bike MS Indiana • TeenWorks • Indy Do Day • USABMX Olympic Day and Race For Life Marian Cycling at Aspire House for Indy Do Day Marian University cycling believes strongly in promoting and developing the next generation of young cyclists and student-athletes. Our team and coaching staff is heavily involved with Midwest Devo, central Indiana’s junior development program. Marian cyclists and alumni assist with Devo practices, ride with juniors on the track, road, and trail, host them in the indoor cycling center, and team staff guides and advises MWD leadership on team management and planning. Marian also provides logistical support to Midwest Devo each year at Cyclocross Nationals, sharing tent space, equipment, and staff support on site.

9 10 INDY CYCLOPLEX: Quick Facts

2019 RACE DAYS PROGRAMING DAYS MARQUEE EVENTS: ROAD 1 2 Marian Midwest Cycling Classic Road: Annual Spring Criterium TRACK 20 90 Major Taylor Racing League BMX 20 51 Track: Thursday Night Race Series CX 2 17 Midwest Challenge Track: Annual Elite Race Weekend TOTALS 43 160 Indiana State Qualifier BMX: Annual Double Points Race Major Taylor Cross Cup Cyclocross: Annual UCI Race Weekend In 2019… • Over 1,100 unique visitors/riders • Eight Track 101 Clinics: learn to ride the Velodrome classes • Two month-long BMX Basics Clinics to introduce kids and their families to BMX Since 2011… • Over $1.5 million in facility capital improvements completed • Five national championships hosted, awarded as host venue for 2020 Collegiate Track National Championships • Countless hours of grounds renovation and upkeep

11 INDY CYCLOPLEX: A City Cycling Headquarters

There’s a lot more than elite racing at the Indy Cycloplex. As a hub of all things bicycles, the Cycloplex and Marian cycling host many community meetings, service days, and is the proud home of Midwest Devo, Indiana’s junior development cycling team.

• Work site for TeenWorks youth employment program, Indy DO Day, Knights Called to Serve, Cardinal Ritter High School Day of Service, and numerous cycling team work sessions • Host site of the 2019 Indiana-Kentucky criterium race education series Junior Skills Clinic • Track 101 clinics offered many times in spring and summer, exposing cyclists to the history, etiquette, and intricacies of track cycling in a beginner-friendly format, coached by Marian alumni and students • BMX Basics League for beginners and ability-specific clinics offered throughout the summer with community coaches from Robinson Fitness and guest-coached by Marian cyclists • Satellite parking location for Penrod Society Arts Fair • Host venue for Marian University- College Of Osteopathic Medicine Celebration of Wellness 5km • Meeting site for several organizations: Central Indiana Bicycling Association, Hilly Hundred planning committee, Indy Skatepark Advocates, Indiana NICA Steering Committee, Indiana-Kentucky Cycling Local Association

12 POWER BOOSTER™: A New Era of Indoor Cycling

Since 2007, Power Booster™ has been improving the engines and pedaling skills of the local cycling community, and providing the athletes of the Marian cycling team with a direct connection to that community. The Paul J. Norman Cycling Center on Marian’s campus offers both a stable and accessible indoor training environment for the team year-round, and a pathway to share their cycling experiences with riders of all ages and levels.

Power Booster’s™ established format of indoor workouts are designed to develop and prepare cyclists for whatever type of riding they enjoy, and to bring together all styles of riding and racing under one roof. Marian student- cyclists have the opportunity to connect with community members while sharing in pedal-efficiency drills, specific output intervals, and direct coaching feedback during classes. This ‘laboratory of sport’ gives students coaching, management, customer service, technical troubleshooting, and marketing skills, all while helping drive forward the collective strength of Indianapolis cycling. Our indoor time trial events each winter continue to be a prime way for area cyclists to test their early-season fitness against their peers, and special class opportunities are always available for groups and clubs.

Indoor cycling is evolving every day and, similar to the entire cycling landscape, we are pushing forward in the technology of indoor riding and racing by incorporating new options to Power Booster™. While CompuTrainer continues to be a reliable, data- driven platform for indoor training and competition, we’ve begun to incorporate new platforms as well: Wahoo KICKRs, Zwift, Wattbikes, and TruTrainer SmartLoad Power Rollers.

13 Photos in this report are courtesy of: Kent Baumgardt, Craig “Gork” Barrette, Zach Bender, Cyclocross Magazine, Shelby Gibbs, Joe Miles, Kajsa Swanson, Joe Vondersaar, Weldon Weaver Designed by: Zach Bender 14 PARTNERS AND ALLIES

All aspects of the Marian University cycling program rely, in part, on the support and generosity of community members, as well as corporate and individual donors. Opportunities to support Marian University cycling include event sponsorship, in-kind donations of product, labor, materials, connections and expertise in a variety of fields, and much more. Please contact us if you are interested in supporting the mission of Marian cycling, particularly through our efforts to revitalize and beautify a community asset. 15 marian.edu • muknights.com • indycycloplex.com