NOW-MS Society 2011 Team Presentation Introduces Riders
2/24/11 - Cyclists gathered Sunday evening at Cynergy Cycles in Santa Monica for the presentation of the 2011 NOW-MS Society men's and women's teams. Team Director Kurt Stockton introduced the 10-rider men's U23 and junior development teams and the 7-rider women's Elite team to a packed crowd of club members, fans and family.
It was a proud event for the team recently awarded a Center of Excellence by USA Cycling Federation. Highlights included Specialized presenting Collin Berry, one of the team's youngest riders, with Fabian Cancellara's SL2 Tarmac Saxobank team bike. Several alumni attended the event, showing their continued support for the club that gave them their start-- Eric Barlevav of Team Exergy and Sergio Hernandez of Jelly Belly.
Specialized presented Collin Berry, one of the team's youngest riders, with Fabian
Cancellara's SL2 Tarmac Saxobank team bike. Collin is pictured with his parents,
Brenda and Dave Berry, and title sponsor Phil Keoghan.
photo © Gus Sarmiento
The 2011 roster includes: Danny Heeley, the 2010 USA Elite Track Nationals Madison Champion who competed on the U23 US National Road Team; Kit Karzen who won silver and bronze at the 2010 Elite Track Nationals (2nd Team Pursuit, 3rd Omnium); Will Chesebro, National Champion in Team Sprint Paralympic Track Nationals; Elite rider Cory Greenberg; Stephen Leece and Developmental rider Danny Katz, Collin Berry, Taylor Clements, Colt Peterson, Morgan Ryan.
For the Elite women's team: Erika Graves, three-time Junior National Track Champion Christine Barron who is the 2010 Women's 17-18 500-meter Time Trial National Champion and member of the Junior World Championships Track Team; Ivie Crawford, Jennifer Johansen, Jenna Kowalski, Julia Lafranchise, Lauren Liscinski, Louise Keoghan and Julie Guthrie.
“I am very excited with the new direction of NOW-MS Society for 2011,” said Team Director Kurt Stockton. “We have revamped our program to include a men's U23 & Junior Development team and a women's Elite team. Look for the NOW-MS Society to make a bigger impact on the racing scene in 2011 as we work to graduate more of our riders to the Pro ranks.”
In 2010, NOW-MS Society team riders won multiple National Championships, multiple CA/NV State Championships and fed riders to the USA National Cycling Team competing at the Junior World Championships, UIV Six Day races across Europe, U23 Road Team in Belgium and Women’s Team in Italy. NOW-MS Society is dedicated to developing tomorrow’s top talent while also increasing awareness about multiple sclerosis. The club is in its seventh season and in that time, seven riders have signed with Pro teams and one was a member of the 2008 USA Track Cycling Team at the Beijing Olympics.
The 2011 NOW-MS Society presented their men's and women's teams at Cynergy Cycles.
Past team members Sergio Hernandez and Eric Barlevav showed their support.
photo © Gus Sarmiento
Phil Keoghan, producer and host of CBS’s Emmy-Award winning series The Amazing Race, continues his support of NOW-MS Society. “This will be the fifth year my wife Louise and I have been the title sponsor of the NOW-MS Society men and women's team and we are delighted to continue our support. We are very excited about the young teams for next season. Our Team Director Kurt Stockton and the Assistant to the Team Director Marc Karzen have put together a great roster of Developmental and Elite riders.“
NOW-MS Society is sponsored by Phil Keoghan’s NOW No Opportunity Wasted Energy Bar, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Specialized, Cynergy Cycles, Velo-Fit, S.O.S. Krill Oil, Cardiac Imaging, Kenspeed, GU Energy and DeFeet.
