Congratulations to K.C. on this additional prestigious recognition of his athletic accomplishments: Sports Illustrated, May 4, 2016, “One-legged high school mountain biker KC Fontes defies the odds,” a story by Tom Taylor.

Among K.C.’s recent accomplishments, he competed April 2016 in the Downhill competition at the 26th Annual Sea Otter Classic.

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GU Energy Extraordinary Courage Award winner:

K.C. Fontes of Salinas High School Cowboy Racing MTB Team

Monterey County has a winner of a National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) award! The prestigious GU Energy Extraordinary Courage award went to its second-ever recipient:  K.C. Fontes of Salinas High School Cowboy Racing Mountain Bike Team.

There were a total of sixteen award winners, hailing from California, Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Utah. The awards were in eleven categories and went to individuals and organizations considered to be the most outstanding student-athletes, dedicated coaches, and the most supportive volunteers, partners, and sponsors to have helped advance interscholastic mountain biking in 2014.

The awards benefit ride and banquet were held January 24, 2015 in Emeryville, CA. In the photo above (shared courtesy of National Interscholastic Cycling Association), KC is second from right, in the back row. To read about all award winners, click here.  Below, read more about this extraordinary local youth.

Congratulations, K.C.!

Thanks to MacGregor Eddy, “We Could Car Less” columnist for the Salinas Californian, for passing along this good news in her 1/25/15 column (1/26 print edition).

Two images directly below © Salinas Californian.

Thanks to K.C., Salinas High School was also named in the pages of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News / #BRAIN, because of this award-winning student-athlete: http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2015/01/27/nica-honors-athletes-supporters-annual-awards#.VMkwuyyoth8

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The info below was previously published on 9/15/14.

Hard to imagine a student-athlete better qualified for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) award in the category of “GU Energy Extraordinary Courage” than K.C. Fontes of Salinas.  That award goes to a one who has “persevered through challenging circumstances and overcome adversity to develop and excel as an individual and role model to other students.”

If you agree that description sounds like K.C. Fontes, let NICA know by filling out this brief questionnaire. Nominations are due 11/15/14. Questions about K.C.? Contact Salinas High Cowboys Racing MTB team. Refer to contact info in section 7 of Bicycling Monterey’s directory of Monterey County bicycling resources; click here.

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K.C. Fontes is a Salinas High School junior who has been courageously battling cancer since sixth grade. K.C. is a member of the Salinas High School Cowboys Racing Mountain Bike Team.

K.C.’s stamina and determination would be extraordinary even without the health challenges. And that inspires some folks to want to pitch in and help with his medical expenses. You may make a deposit to the “K.C. Fontes Medical Fund” at any Wells Fargo Bank, or mail to the branch where the account was established: Wells Fargo Bank, 456 S. Main St., Salinas, CA 93901. The routing number is 121042882, and account number is 1330465640.

Questions? Contact the Salinas High team’s head coach. Refer to contact info in section 7 of Bicycling Monterey’s directory of Monterey County bicycling resources; click here.

Learn more about K.C. by downloading this 2-page PDF, which includes Dennis Taylor’s 6/8/13 article in the Monterey County Herald and a link to a video portrait:  About KC Fontes

PDF above and photos below, by Meredith Evans Photography, provided courtesy of Coach Jeff Lindenthal and the Cowboys.

Photographs by Meredith Evans Photography.

Thanks also to Doug Chandler/DC-10 bike shop of Salinas. Sherry and Doug Chandler hosted the 9/17/14 Twilight Ride at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and proceeds went toward K.C.’s medical fund. (Haven’t been to a Twilight Ride? Click here.)