BERKELEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — The National Interscholastic Cycling Association has announced the Oregon is the latest state to join the existing 21 NICA regional leagues across America.
Austin McInerny, NICA's president, said, "Marked by volcanoes, abundant bodies of water, dense evergreen and mixed forests, as well as high deserts and semiarid shrub lands, Oregon is a mountain biker's paradise! As such, we are confident that the newly formed NICA Oregon League leadership team will be extremely successful in helping Oregon's teenagers establish mountain biking clubs in schools across the state. Bringing NICA to Oregon will provide opportunities for youth to build strong body, mind and character through cycling as well as strong economic benefits to the communities that embrace the power of interscholastic cycling. With the addition of Oregon, NICA now has the infrastructure in place to serve just over 60 percent of the country's population; we are well on our way towards fulfilling our mission of providing every American teenager the opportunity to participate in NICA programming through a school or community based cycling team."
Heather Wolfgang, NICA Oregon League Director, said, "We are so excited to bring the Oregon League to life! Our state has such an awesome cycling community already, and now with NICA's full support, we'll be able to get even more kids on bikes to embrace challenge, strength, grit, and camaraderie."
NICA works with nearly 800 school-based teams, and over 14,500 students-athletes and 6,000 licensed coaches. The organization has been growing steadily since 2009, and enjoys average growth of 35 percent annually.
