Nicky Wangsgard and Les Brown were high school standouts.
Now, later in life, they are excelling in other areas.
Wangsgard, the Ogden High basketball and tennis star of the 1990s, is now challenging the big guns in U.S. women’s road cycling.
Last weekend at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in North Carolina, Wangsgard, now a professor at Southern Utah University, topped the field for her first National Criterium Calendar victory.
Riding for Primal-Map My Ride, Wangsgard outsprinted U.S. criterium champion Theresa Cliff-Ryan and USA Crits leader Erica Allar for the win in Charlotte.
“I knew (the other teams) would not let anything go,” said Wangsgard following her win. “I just sat on the sprinters and let their teammates be good teammates (to them) and do the job for them. And while they were doing that job for them they were also doing the job for me, too.”
Brown, a former high school football and basketball standout in Salt Lake City, chose to play basketball at Westminster College from 2006 to 2009. But he raised eyebrows this past week when he signed a contract to play with the Miami Dolphins.
After a couple of years working for a private equity firm, Brown earned his shot through a scout day tryout at BYU.
Taking aim
Ogden is looking for an aspiring young journalist to become an archery fan reporter during the third state of the Archery World Cup this June.
The committee will select one reporter to join Alexia Martinez, one of last year’s winning reporters, to cover the third and only North American stage, June 18-24.
To learn more or to volunteer for the World up event, visit www.ogdenwc.com.
Tidbits
Track and field thrower Lindsey Spencer, a former Fremont High standout, earned Utah State student-athlete of the week honors for the second time this year. ...
Chuck Gaer was elected president-elect for the Northern Utah USBCA. His two-year term will begin Aug. 1. Other board members are Connie Paquette, Ed Kopowski, Natalie Downs, Melanie Perry and Mike Rhodes. ...
Earlier this month, Real Salt Lake staged its “Leo’s Paws for Cause” dog adoption event along with the Humane Society of Utah. ... The U.S. lawn mower racing season is already in full swing in cities and towns around the nation. For “mow” information, fans can visit www.letsmow.com. ...
BYU linebacker Shay Muirbrook, legendary coach Lou Holtz and three others were inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame on Thursday. ...
After many pre-race issues were resolved, the Salt Lake Marathon is on schedule to be run today in Salt Lake City. ...
Eight University of Utah swimmers — Nick Soedel, Traycie Swartz, Ken Tiltges, Major Robinson, Hannah Caron, Karson Applin, Natalie Edge and Kristina Evans — will compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials June 25-July 2 in Omaha, Neb. ...
Local racing returns to Miller Motorsports Park this weekend with Utah region races in different classes. It’s all a prelude to the Utah Grand Prix on April 28-29 at MMP.
Chris J. Miller is sports editor for the Standard-Examiner. He can be reached at 801-625-4261 or cmiller@standard.net
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