The Wright Cycling team has finished 20 spots higher than where they qualified each of the past two years. This year, they are looking to move up 18 spots.
In 2012 and 2013, the team qualified 30th and 31st, only to finish 10th and 11th respectively. This spring, they qualified in 18th position, and have their sights set on winning the race.
“I think we definitely have a legitimate shot at winning,” senior Isaac Scott said. “We have the fitness to stick around. We aren’t going to be dropped in the main pack. Anything’s possible at Little 5. We are going into it with expectations of winning the race.”
Scott, who finished 20th overall in time trials, also finished 5th overall in Miss ‘n Out. He is one of seven team members. The four racing are Scott, senior Ben Richardson, senior Elliot Layden, and sophomore Evan Zehr.
The team finished 8th in team pursuit.
“We have seven guys on our team who are all really strong riders,” Richardson said. “Any of them really could ride in the final four.”
The team’s coach, Chris Wojtowich, a former member of Cutters from 1997-2000, winning two Little 500 races, is in his first year coaching the Wright Cycling team. He has been the coach of the Teter girls’ team for ten years, and was approached by IU junior RJ Thomas, whose sister is on the Teter team, asking about coaching the Wright team as well.
“They have improved a ton,” Wojtowich said. “I’m pretty happy with them.”
He said he wanted to coach a men’s team this year, and was looking for a team that would be willing to work hard, which Wright has he says.
“We want to finish in the top five,” Wojtowich said. “We don’t consider luck an option. We need to stay out of wrecks and we will be right there in the last lap, and I’m pretty confident about that.”
Layden, who will be in his third race this year, says the team has a lot of confidence and has grown throughout his time preparing for the race.
“I think we are moving on up,” Layden said. “The last two years, nobody really noticed us. We qualified 30th and 31st and we got 10th and 11th, so moving up 20 places each year, Dixie Highway back to back, and we want that Dixie Highway again.”
Andrew Vailliencourt
