The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
   

National cycling team keeps East from commencement

Catholic High senior 'blessed' to race in cycling competitions throughout the world

Published: May 27, 2015   

By Aprille Hanson
Associate Editor

Courtesy Robert Spangle
Evan East races in the 2015 Walburg Classic Road Race in Walburg, Texas in February. East, a graduating senior at Catholic High, is cycling in Europe with the United States Junior National Team.

Catholic High School senior Evan East’s bicycle has taken him everywhere — from racing down Napoleon-era cobble stone streets in Europe to up a volcano on the island of Tenerife.

“I rode up a volcano, city level to 8,000 feet; that was one of the more surreal moments I’ve ever had on a bike,” the 18-year-old East said.

It’s the life of a competitive cyclist and East has worn that title since he was about 14 years old. And it’s an activity that the administration at Catholic High School in Little Rock has gone to great lengths to support, from getting him homework assignments ahead of time throughout the year when he goes out of state to race, to allowing him miss his final two weeks of school, including his May 22 graduation. He left May 1 to compete in Europe as one of six on the United States Junior National Team, racing in Belgium, Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

“It’s been kind of complicated, but Mr. (Steve) Straessle, my principal, has been flexible with my crazy schedule … It definitely takes up a ton of my time as opposed to a normal teen that doesn’t ride his bike for two hours a day,” East said, adding that he averages about 300 miles a week.

“At the age of 18 already I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the world and meet so many people. … I feel like I’ve definitely been blessed.” Evan East

East, the oldest of three children to Hunter and Dustin East of Little Rock, attends St. Andrew Anglican Church in Little Rock and has attended Catholic High for four years. His cycling coach, Doug Close, is based in Lake Forest, Ill.

“My dad went there so I was interested in it for sure,” East said of Catholic High. “I was interested in making new friendships as well, and I have done that over the last four years.”

Following in the footsteps of his father Hunter, an accomplished amateur racer, a spark was lit when Evan East was about 14 years old.

“I got a new bike ... I started riding more and more often,” East said, racing in beginner competitions that averaged about 30 miles. He climbed the ranks, soon racing 70 to 100 miles on average. And eventually, he caught the attention of USA Cycling.

“It’s a sport that requires a lot of endurance, a strong mental fortitude,” East said. “I’ve raced all over the country … I’ve been on gravel roads, going up into mountains, over whatever terrain. I love racing in the mountains because of the scenery and I’m good at it.”

He’s raced more than 100 races in his short career as far away as New York and California.

While he’s won and had high finishes, it can be a dangerous ride.

“I’ve got a lot of scars here and there with crashing; it’s just part of the sport,” East said. “I damaged my knee real bad when I hit the back of a motorcycle,” that erroneously came into the path of the racers. “I hit it going like 30 miles per hour. I was bruised up for a few weeks.”

East will spend most of May competing in five European races.

“In places like Belgium it’s more competitive over there. That’s the sport they grow up with in their culture,” East said. “It’s cool for us U.S. kids to experience that and race with some of the best.”

East will attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas in the fall to study business finance and is still debating whether he wants to go into professional cycling.

He said he’d never forget the support of those at Catholic High. 

“I try to be really thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been given from my school and give credit to God for the things I’ve gotten to do,” East said. “At the age of 18 already I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the world and meet so many people. That’s something the average kid doesn’t get to do. I feel like I’ve definitely been blessed.”

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