NICA GRiT
Currently, girls represent 24% of NICA’s overall national student-athlete participation. NICA GRiT (Girls Riding Together) seeks to increase that number significantly over the next five years. The GRiT Program is NICA’s effort to recruit and retain more girls and female coaches in NICA programs. We want to reduce any barriers to participation, so everyone has what they need to be equally successful.
Meet our team leaders
John Leitzel
John Leitzel
John Leitzel
Indiana League Director
Level 3 coach
6 of years coaching
30 of years riding MTB
You had me at "bikes".... I love sharing in the joy of student athletes reaching a goal, succeeding, and finding they can do things they didn't think they could!
Sean Carroll
John Leitzel
John Leitzel
Region Comp Head Coach
Indiana League Race Ops Manager
Level 3 coach
5 of years coaching
6 of years riding MTB
I really like coaching up the rookie athletes that are just starting out and seeing them grow in skills and confidence. Also blasting the Disney songs during course set up is a good time and makes the older kids shake their heads in embarrassment.
Sean Meehan
John Leitzel
Sean Meehan
Region Comp Team Director
Indiana League Chief Course Setter
Level 3 coach
5 years coaching
8 years riding MTB
What I like most about NICA is the positivity! Interacting with coaches, league staff, and student athletes is unlike any youth sport I have ever seen.
Hoss Fatemi
Maureen Carroll
Brienne Meehan
Region Comp President
Race Photographer
Level 1 coach
2 years coaching
20 years riding MTB
I really enjoy riding with my son, having my family there to cheer him and the rest of the team on. My son started with zero experience riding MTB and he can now ride all the trails with confidence. This league is incredibly positive and welcoming. You'll have a great time being here.
Brienne Meehan
Maureen Carroll
Brienne Meehan
Region Comp Secretary
Level 1 Coach
3 years coaching
3 years riding mountain bikes, 5 years of parenting mountain biking kids 🙂
NICA builds people up. Student athletes are the main focus, but it’s an experience for the whole family and the whole cycling community. It's an organization that listens as well as it leads. It’s really a home for
Region Comp Secretary
Level 1 Coach
3 years coaching
3 years riding mountain bikes, 5 years of parenting mountain biking kids 🙂
NICA builds people up. Student athletes are the main focus, but it’s an experience for the whole family and the whole cycling community. It's an organization that listens as well as it leads. It’s really a home for anyone, and welcomes everyone. Plus, riding bikes in the woods? The more time I spend here, the more it feels like home.
Maureen Carroll
Maureen Carroll
Maureen Carroll
Region Comp Treasurer
Indiana League Volunteer Coordinator
Level 2 Coach
6 years coaching
5 years riding MTB
The league culture is hard to beat. On race weekends, I see kids cheering for people on other teams and giving high fives at the finish line. It is a culture that is built from the ground up. The student athletes can also mold their ex
Region Comp Treasurer
Indiana League Volunteer Coordinator
Level 2 Coach
6 years coaching
5 years riding MTB
The league culture is hard to beat. On race weekends, I see kids cheering for people on other teams and giving high fives at the finish line. It is a culture that is built from the ground up. The student athletes can also mold their experience to their liking. If they want to race, they can race, and if they just want to ride with friends, they can do that, too. It doesn’t have the pressure and negativity that you might see in other sport leagues.
Stoney Run, Crown Point
This is our home trail that sits in a 317 acre woodland which gives challenges to riders of all levels and is a perfect trail for the newer riders. This is also the location of our first race of the season.
Creekside Trails, Valparaiso
14 mile trail system is vast and allows the riders to split up to ride sections appropriate for their level of skill.
Big Marsh Bike Park, Chicago
Big Marsh Bike Park, Chicago
Big Marsh Bike Park, Chicago
Big Marsh is a purpose built trail and pump track that gives riders the ability to repeat features to hone their skills and is close to the north side of NWI.
Imagination Glen, Portage
Big Marsh Bike Park, Chicago
Big Marsh Bike Park, Chicago
This 10-mile multi-use mountain biking trail in Portage's Imagination Glen Park is a popular destination. The trail has three miles of course for beginner–intermediate riders and seven miles for intermediate-advanced riders.