INDIANAPOLIS – Marian College head cycling coach Dean Peterson and the 11-time national collegiate track cycling champion Marian College cycling team are proud to announce the commit of five outstanding scholar riders for the 2009-10 season.

Peterson has signed three men and two women to add to the program that won the MidWest Collegiate Cycling Conference and Midwest Regional championships at the end of April.

Tyler Karnes (Chesapeake, Virginia/Hickory) signed with Marian College and brings a strong racing background to the Midwest. Karnes earned a first-place finish in the Georgia Cup Rome road race, a first-place finish in the Tour de Brew, and a first-place finish in the Virginia Beach Winter Cyclocross Endurance Challenge. He was also the runner-up in the Cullop’s Imports Spring Criterium. He also completed high school with a 3.25 grade-point-average.

Sam Stone (North Freedom, Wisconsin/Baraboo) committed to Marian College and is currently competing as a member of the Baraboo Sharks. Stone was the champion in the Giro d’Grafton junior open category in June 2008. He was also the Wisconsin state champion in the junior 17-18 category as a member of the Baraboo Sharks in 2008. Stone carried a 4.0 grade-point-average at Baraboo High School.

Weston Luzadder (Carmel, Indiana/Carmel) is currently a member of the NUVO Cultural Trail cycling team where he has been a successful junior rider. Luzadder, an Eagle Scout, was the 2008 Junior National Criterium champion. He also earned a runner-up finish at the Downtown Bloomington Criterium, and he earned a fourth-place finish in the L’Esprit road race in 2007. He is active at Carmel High School where he is the senior class president carrying a 3.31 grade-point-average.

Anna Young (Syracuse, New York/West) is the fifth commitment to Marian College and is the second women signed by Peterson for next season. Young was the 2008 junior national road race champion and currently rides for Team Lip Smackers. She also picked up two top-10 finishes during the same weekend after she finished third in the criterium and eighth in the individual time trial. She also finished as the runner-up in the 2008 junior national cyclocross championship, and she was the champion in the International Cycling Classic criterium in 2008. She has a 3.62 grade-point-average at West High School in Syracuse, New York.

Jackie Kurth (Palm City, Florida/Martin County) also committed to Marian College as the first of two women riders. Kurth was the 2006 junior national road race champion who also earned a runner-up finish in the 2008 road race. She also earned a fourth-place finish in the 2008 City Bikes RFK criterium, and she was the 2007 Florida Points Series champion. She currently rides for Team Kenda and her other interests include community service and leadership. She has a 3.95 grade-point-average and is a National Honor Society member.

The Knights head to the 2009 USA Cycling Collegiate National Road Championships on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They will be seeking their first collegiate road national championship at altitude in Colorado Springs, Colorado.