March 28, 2007-The Bucknell Cycling team stamped its authority at the 3rd annual Bucknell Cycling Classic as the riders collectively scored four separate wins in just two days of racing. The team bested 18 opposing universities to win the overall weekend for Division II schools. Despite tedious work, meticulous planning, and crack-of-dawn mornings preparing for the races by the student-athletes, the Bison were able to move from 6th to 3rd in the overall team conference standings as well as mark the first ever home-win on a Bucknell hosted weekend.

Saturday morning’s Team Time Trial wound its way through the seldom traversed roads of central Pennsylvania that seemed to favor the stampeding bison as two of its squads claimed victory. The home team had the advantage as the familiar course, mapped only 6 miles from Bucknell’s campus, favored both the experienced team of men’s A riders as well as the newcomers on the women’s C squad. On a demolishing 15 minute run, the men’s A team composed of Charles Alexander, Michael Chauner, Todd Dowling, and Adam “Krowbar” Kahler, annihilated the previously dominant Penn State and New Hampshire teams by 23 and 39 seconds respectively over only a 7.5 mile course. For the first time in Bucknell Cycling history, the team presented 4 outstanding women cyclists who gave the category C squad their first win ever. The dynamic duo of sophomore Janine Hauber and senior Chisato Fukuda were more than just “Army Strong” when they beat West Point’s women’s team by over 3 minutes. The men's B team composed of sophomores Kyle Friis and Matt Cocola accompanied by freshman Aaron Cravez finished a strong fourth despite their missing teammate Jeff Boehmer who was sidelined due to illness on Friday afternoon.

Menacing gray clouds, rough road conditions, and out of control Amish buggies were not enough to stop junior Michael Chauner and senior Charles Alexander from their determined efforts to finish 5th and 6th respectively in the 54 mile Men’s A Road Race. Angela Sherbondy hung on to garner 16th in the Women’s A category as two former junior national track champions from DeSales and Penn State ripped the field apart making it the hardest road race to date. In Women’s C, senior Chisato Fukuda took 3rd and Danielle Monteverde, in her first race weekend of the season, took 4th.

Sunday’s criterium, although plagued with car removals and crashes, was another historic event for Bucknell Cycling. Janine Hauber and Michael Chauner each scored wins after battling through the precarious corners on the .85 mile loop that connected Bucknell to the surrounding community. Bucknell Women’s C proved the impossible by landing a 1-2-3 finish as Janine Hauber came in 1st, Laura Roberts 2nd, and Chisato Fukuda 3rd. Margaret Hartman took 13th in Women’s B, while Angela Sherbondy took an impressive 10th in another competitive Women’s A field.

The Men’s A race gave the speed of sound a new definition as the 38-man pack careened through the downtown streets of Lewisburg in an hour long grudge match between the top 7 teams of the Eastern Conference. Junior Michael Chauner made a race winning decision in the early stages of the race by following a group of 6 riders who subsequently broke away and lapped the field after a concerted 45 minute effort. Chauner remained relaxed and guided himself to the front of the race after the chaotic reorganization took place when the breakaway caught the field with only 3 miles to go. Despite the pandemonium and confusion, Chauner employed his skill as a road-sprinter by decisively winning the dash for the line over other conference superstars such as Junior National Champion Chris Ruhl (Penn State) and professional Josh Lipka (UNH).

The Bucknell Cycling Team would like to profusely thank all of its parents, volunteers, and community who helped support the race for this weekend would not have been possible without them.

The team would also like to recognize senior Todd Dowling, who was the backbone of the entire weekend’s operation. Its success was contingent upon his relentless persistence and determination which in turn created the largest and most successful Bucknell race to date. Dowling, a recent recipient of the Stennar Scholorship for his outstanding contribution to collegiate cycling, was the figurehead in the reestablishment of the Bucknell Cycling Classic race weekend and hopes it will continue to exist and flourish in the future.