They were runners and swimmers. They were golfers and soccer players. They were baseball and softball players.
But now, they’re cyclists.
A dozen Columbus natives, most of which competed in high school athletics at Columbus North or Columbus East, will be part of one of the nation’s biggest collegiate cycling events this weekend — Indiana University’s Little 500.
"I played soccer all my life, and then I decided to not continue sports in college," senior Laura Anne Watanabe said. "I think in that year off, I kind of started missing it, and I missed the competitive atmosphere and just kind of that team group going for some kind of goal, and one of the seniors on the team, (Columbus native) Evelyn Malcomb, talked me into going to a meeting and encouraged me to try it out, and I haven’t looked back since."
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Watanabe will be going for a third consecutive Little 500 championship with her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, this afternoon. She was part of the team that trained, but did not race in 2017.
Last year, Watanabe rode 34 of the 100 laps for the victorious Thetas.
"We’ve put in a lot of work, and I’m excited to be in a new role," Watanabe said. "I was a rookie and then a teammate and now a captain, so I’ve gotten to experience the Little 5 from all these roles, and I’m looking forward to helping the team hold up our legacy."
The 32nd Little 500 women’s race is at 4 p.m. today at IU’s Bill Armstrong Stadium. The 69th men’s race is at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Junior Johnny Hodson, who ran cross-country and track and swam at North, is in his third year competing for Beta Sigma Psi.
"It’s been something that’s probably taught a different kind of discipline and work ethic than I can even explain, but the excitement beforehand, everyone is going wild," Hodson said. "But meanwhile, all the bikers just have to stay laser-focused, and then the day of the race, it’s just an excitement, whether you’re an independent team or you’re a Greek team, the support you have is something I’ve never had before. It’s really cool to be a part of it."
The ‘Hooligans’
Five years ago, Columbus natives Reid Wilson and Mitchell Duke, along with Wisconsin native Mark Warner lived on the third floor of the Parks Wing of Wright Quadrangle. So when they formed a Little 500 team, they came up with the name "Three Parks Hooligans," or "3PH" for short.
Another Columbus native, Matt Thompson, arrived at IU the following year and joined the 3PH squad. For the third year, Thompson’s brother Ben is part of the team.
"I’ve grown up around cycling in the community," Ben Thompson said. "So my brother and others like Reid Wilson and Mitchell Duke had brought me along and took me under their wing and really showed me the ropes when it came to Little 5. It’s really beneficial to have someone like that help you out because there’s a lot to learn in a sport like cycling, especially when you’ve never done it before."
Ben Thompson, a junior, was a swimmer and baseball player at North. He is one of five Columbus natives on this year’s 3PH team, although only four can compete in Saturday’s race.
Junior Craig Althaide ran cross-country for the Bull Dogs. He is be competing for 3PH for the first time this year.
"We got to watch it for the past two years, and it’s always super exciting and you get really nervous," Althaide said. "This year, surprisingly I’m a little less nervous because I’m riding, but the excitement level is still an all-time high. This last week, I’m just ready to get on the track and race."
Junior Jared Imlay was a swimmer and golfer at North. He played golf at Cincinnati Christian University as a freshman before transferring to IU.
Imlay was part of the 3PH team last year, but was not one of the four who competed on race day. This year, he will be.
"It’s pretty exciting," Imlay said. "It’s one race that we get per year. As a rookie race rider, it’s kind of crazy. Having all this set up right now, it’s kind of surreal. You get an adrenaline rush every time you come out here."
Sophomore Ahaan Singhal, a former cross-country and track runner at North, and freshman Thomas Goble, a former Bull Frog swimmer, also are a part of this year’s 3PH team.
The 3PH squad, which is in its fifth year, has finished in the top 10 all four years. It was fifth in 2016, eighth in 2017 and 10th in 2015 and 2018.
"It’s real nice to have a community like Columbus support you," Ben Thompson said. "With all the cycling infrastructure and group rides and stuff, it’s awesome to go over there in the summer and train."
Seeking a title
A pair of Columbus natives are part of the Teter Cycling team, which has hopes of challenging for this year’s women’s championship.
Seniors Lauren Britt and Kinsey Allen were part of the Teter squad that finished 10th in 2017 and third last year. The team has qualified second this year.
"When I was looking for a team, there were a lot of people from Columbus on Teter Cycling, so I went to them first, and it just worked out really well from there," said Britt, a former North soccer player.
Allen is in her fourth year with Teter. She became involved with cycling after watching Matt Thompson, her boyfriend, race in the Little 500.
"I saw him do it when I was still in high school, and I knew I was coming to IU, so I decided to do it," Allen said.
Meanwhile, sophomore Kaitlin Wagner is part of a CSF (Christian Student Fellowship) Cycling team that has qualified sixth this year. Wagner, who played softball at East, competed in qualifications last year, but not in the race.
"I really developed a bond with my teammates, and I’ve had a really good time just being out here with my ministry and with Christian Student Fellowship Cycling," Wagner said. "It’s been a lot of fun. I’m super excited. It’s looking good this year."
North graduate Alex Nusawardhana came to IU as a swimmer and competed for the Hoosiers as a freshman last season. But after twice dislocating her shoulder, she joined Godspeed, which is based out of St. Paul’s Catholic Center.
"I still wanted to do something athletic, so I decided to join a Little 500 team," Nusawardhana said. "I was new to the community, and seeing what all it had to offer, I was immediately like, ‘I’m interested in that. I want to join. I want to try it out and see what it’s like.’ It’s just been a process of us learning what the track is like, learning what hours are, fundraising, getting to know what the race is. Just working and training to get here, even though most of us had no prior cycling experience whatsoever."
Another former North soccer player, Emma Risley, originally went to University of Indianapolis to play soccer. But since transferring to IU, she has joined the team for her sorority, Sigma Kappa.
The Little 500 has inspired at least three movies, including the 1979 film "Breaking Away," which won an Academy Award. More than 25,000 people typically attend the race each April.
"It’s been really fun the last two years," Ben Thompson said. "It’s a great way to stay in shape and have a good group of friends and be a part of something bigger than yourself."
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What: Little 500
When: 4 p.m. today (women’s race), 2 p.m. Saturday (men’s race)
Where: Indiana Unviersity’s Bill Armstrong Stadium
Admission: $45 for 13-and-over, $15 for ages 3 to 12, free for ages 2 and under (ticket is good for both days)
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