Eighth-grader Emmett Valley took first in the state for 8th-grade boys in D1 (overall season).

In mountain biking, bikers line team up for a race, which is called the “call up”.  They line up based on where they placed in the last race.  For Emmett’s first race of the 2021 season for the “call up”, he started at 90th because it was his first race ever. Emmett finished his first race placing in 16th.  In his second race, he progressed from 16th to 6th place.

“As a seventh grader Emmett had only done two races, and then he knew he could ride and he was pretty decent,” Andrea Schueler, his mom, and English teacher said.

Scores of other students also contributed to the successful mountain biking team this season.

“Second place in the state is held by Stillwater Middle School student Charlie Sanderson,” Schueler said. “It’s huge that first and second place were both from the same team.”

Emmett said watching videos of people mountain biking made him interested in the sport and inspired him to try the growing sport.

The mountain biking team as a whole completed an outstanding season and each person contributed uniquely to the team. Raw talent is not the root of the team’s success, rather it stems from their hard work and dedication.

“We had a great year. The high school team won first in the state, and the middle school team took third. We worked hard and worked very well as a team, ” eighth grader Charlie Sanderson said.

Emmett is highly respected by his coaches and teammates.  He is known for his kind heart and maybe a quiet person, but he is also a leader and role model his peers look up to.

“He’s not one that’s going to get off the race course and really celebrate…he’s pretty quiet about it,” Schueler said.

“Emmett Valley was a huge contributor to the mountain biking team, not only because of how he performed, but he is very nice, and is a great teammate. He works well with others and is very kind,” Sanderson added.

Emmett knows his limits but enjoys setting goals for himself, going for them, and diving right in. Emmett trusts he can handle what he is getting himself into at the moment.

“Emmett likes that individual competition element, he likes to try and get better.  He controls how he does, always willing to improve and get better at mountain biking. He is not cocky about it. Emmett found the thing he loves to do, and he is living it to the fullest,” Schueler explained. “There are so many ways for kids to find activities they love to do!”

Emmett was one of many successful contributors to the mountain biking team, not just because of how he performed, but because of the respect, he showed to everyone around him.