Of the eight-member Woodland Park High School Mountain Bike Team, two riders qualified for the state championship in October in Glenwood Springs.

Ian Lehtinen, a sophomore, and Riley Holsapple, a junior, competed and finished the 12-mile course on the campus of Colorado Mountain College. The two had plenty of cheerleaders over the weekend competition that included team members, coaches, parents, and friends.

 “The state championships are very competitive, and Colorado is in the top three competitors in the high school mountain bike championships,” said Paul Gabaldon, the team’s head coach. “We go back and forth with Utah.”

One of the team members, Henry Mauer, legacy rider and a senior who rode for the team during the four years, has earned a letter in the sport, which he will receive in a ceremony this week.

The team rode through the season in four qualifying rounds, 18 miles each, in Frisco, Eagle, Leadville and Canon City through the Royal Gorge.

Gabaldon founded the team eight years ago and at one time coached up to 20 members on the team.

“This is the smallest number of team members I’ve ever had,” he said.

On the other hand, he said, there are as many coaches as team members. “We are a small but mighty team,” he said.

In a time when many teenagers suffer mental illness, some in crisis, Gabaldon looks at sports as a stabilizer.

“Extra-curricular activities build character and moral integrity,” he said. “And that’s what we want.”

In addition to Lehtinen, Holsapple and Mauer, the team includes A. J. Holtorf, Tyson Luedecke, Colton Wilkinson, Greg Beck and Isaiah North.