The Piedmont High School mountain bike team continued its strong 2026 NorCal League season at the Exchequer XC race in the Yosemite Foothills near Lake McClure. The venue is known for its rolling terrain, sustained climbs, and fast, flowing descents. After the fast, sandy conditions at Fort Ord, Exchequer’s ~5.8-mile lap and ~700 feet of climbing required a different approach that rewarded riders who could pace the climbs and stay smooth on fast descents.
Historic day for Piedmont girls
Race 2 marked a milestone moment for the program, with two Piedmont riders on the JV2 Girls podium for the first time.
Josephine Schuetz powered to 1st place (1:03:20), defending her win from Race 1 and retaining the leader’s jersey with another commanding ride.
Right behind her, Olivia Bailey delivered a breakthrough performance, finishing 4th (1:05:32) putting two Piedmont riders firmly at the front of the field and on the podium, a first for the team.
In addition to a strong race performance, Olivia Bailey and Mina Herrgott hosted an event to encourage more girls on mountain bikes as GRiT (Girls Riding Together, https://www.norcalmtb.org/grit) Ambassadors.
Piedmont High School Seniors on the MTB Team. Asher Villareal, Gabriel Barbosa, Caleb Canada, and Jasper Schuetz. 
Sophomore Zachary Carter shreds at Exchequer placing 6th in JV1. 
Piedmont High School had two sophomore girls in JV2 on the podium, Josephine Schuetz in 1st place and Olivia Bailey in 4th place.
Podium finish in Varsity
Senior Jasper Schuetz delivered a standout performance in Varsity Boys, earning 3rd place with a time of 1:06:56, a strong result on a longer, more demanding, climb-heavy course.
Strong performances across the team
In JV1 Boys D2, Zachary Carter posted a 1:16:27 finish, placing 6th and continuing his push toward the podium. The JV2 Girls group continued to shine, with Rose Reining and Mina Herrgott finishing close together in a tightly packed field. In JV2 Boys D2, Caleb Canada led the group, followed by Kai Hsu and Gabriel Barbosa.
Freshman riders continued to build momentum, with Emilio Roberts, Chase Mellers, and Benjamin Gitter all gaining valuable experience on one of the season’s most challenging courses.
DEVO continues to deliver
Piedmont DEVO riders also took on the Exchequer course, racing a shorter but still climb-heavy loop alongside the high school event. Carter Lew led the team with a strong 12th-place finish in 8th Grade Boys, while teammates Teo Wickner, Kian Spina, and Ben Callaway competed in deep and highly competitive fields. The DEVO team’s continued participation across categories highlights the program’s growth and the strength of Piedmont’s pipeline, with middle school riders gaining valuable experience on one of the season’s most challenging courses.
Photos courtesy of Jane Lin