COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Youth notebook

Solon's TePoelwins BMX title

TULSA, Okla. - As the outdoor BMX racing season came to an end, many local riders prepared for the last national level race of the year at the Quik Trip Center, a 10-acre multipurpose facility in Tulsa, Okla.

The race, held annually on the weekend after Thanksgiving, draws thousands of riders from the United States, Canada and beyond. It is the USABMX Grand National race and aside from the Olympics, it may be the most prestigious race a BMX rider can win.

And that is just what two Eastern Iowa riders did.

Lucas TePoel of Solon and Jared Lentzkow of Waterloo brought home the taller than 6-foot first-place trophies. TePoel, who has been racing only since June, won the 10 Intermediate division, in dramatic fashion, garnering the nickname “Turbo” from one USABMX official as he made his winning pass.

Lentzkow won the 16 Novice title.

Whitney Ruffridge of Cedar Rapids placed second in her 21-25 girls' cruiser class and Travis Johnson of Marion took second in his 19-27 Intermediate class.

Lyle captures 4 events for CRAG

HIAWATHA - Kori Lyle won four events and Caitlin Conner, Grace Hartzler and Connie Mendoza three apiece for the Cedar Rapids Association of Gymnastics at their own Jingle Bell Gymboree.

Lyle and Conner won in Level 4, along with Maanasa Chinnakonda, Hailey Hakes, Katie Kreutner and Grace Zaugg.

Hartzler and Mendoza competed in Level 6 and were joined by winners Maya Deuso, Kareena McSweeney, Mary Kate Patterson and Emma Westfall.

Level 5 winners were Kayla Hahn, Hannah Maus and Megan Norris.

Elizabeth Anderson, Jordyn Bowers, Sidney Davidson, Allison Hayes and Alyssa McAleer were Level 4 placwinners, while Jessica Frasher, Kyleigh Garcia, Sophia Wilbanks and Lilly Underwood placed in Level 5, and Lily Culver placed in Level 6.

Smith, Richardsshine for Twisters

HIAWATHA - Elise Smith and Emily Richards both won four events at CRAG's Jingle Bell meet last weekend.

Smith won in Level 4, Richards in Level 5.

Chloe Carpenter won three events in Level 4 and Carlie Mather Paige Wilhem, Sophia Barbieri and Jasmine Stafford also winner winners. Elizabeth Tanner, Reese Miller and Alexis Wheeler were placewinners.

Bree Lewis won three events in Level 5 while Leah Hendrickson, Gabriella Schroud, Taylor Peterson, Emma Lewis and Miriam Price also won. Tatum Burnhardt, Lindsey Carnahan, Riley Schweitzer, Riley Kalous, Sammie Triplett and Aliyah Burtis earned top-three finishes.

Sarah Nolting won twice in Level 6 and Natalie Averkamp placed in three events.