Collegiate Cycling News - Marian Star Graduates to Pro

Marian College's Bennet van der Genugten Signs With Kenda Pro
Passes Baton  to dam Leibovitz Who Signed with Marian College
Indianapolis -  One of the top riders in Marian College cycling history is heading to the next level and passing the tradition of 11 collegiate national track cycling championships to a local Lawrence Central High School standout.

enior Bennet van der Genugten (Bloomington, Indiana/North) (above) signed a contract to ride professionally for Kenda Pro Cycling presented by Spinergy at the Marian College Cycling Center last week.

Bennet van der Genugten in action

Bennet was more than a real talent on the bike for us,” said head coach Dean Peterson. “He brought charisma and commitment to a team that was stuck in a serious head wind. He has helped establish a team environment that Marian College’s student cyclists can build upon.”

Bennet has been one of the most successful riders over the past three years at Marian College and was a member of three national collegiate track cycling championship teams. During his tenure at Marian College, van der Genugten was a consistent presence both on the track and on the road. He earned five national collegiate track cycling championships, won four road races, and earned victories in five criteriums including the 2007 MWCCC regional championship criterium.

He also won the 2007 track national championship in the men’s individual omnium, the 2008 MidWest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC) men’s overall championship, and the 2008 MWCCC regional road race championship. Throughout his collegiate career, Bennet also raced as a member of the USCF and has earned 13 career first-place finishes. He was the winner of the Best Young Rider competition at the Tour of Ohio in 2008 where he finished 10th overall. Bennet has earned four road race titles, a circuit race, and two criteriums. Bennet has placed in the top 20 in 24 major events and finished in the top five in 19 collegiate events.

Kenda Pro Cycling presented by Spinergy, formerly Inferno Racing, LLC, has undertaken something unique: a purely industry-supported and American-driven professional team. Bennet joins former Marian College standout Jacob Rytlewski as a member of the 10 rider team.

Picking up the Baton

Within one week of Bennet van der Genugten’s graduation from Marian College on to the professional ranks, Lawrence Central High School standout Adam Leibovitz (right) signed with Marian College to begin competing in the spring of 2009.

 Leibovitz represented the United States at the Junior World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, in July 2008 and returned home to capture the USA Cycling National Junior Time Trial Championship in California. Leibovitz joins the 11-time collegiate national track cycling championship-winning Knights, which recently earned a fifth-place finish at the USA Cycling Collegiate Cyclocross Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. This was the first time the Knights had competed in the championship event.

“Adam adds a big motor to an already strong and crafty group of riders,” said Peterson. “He will add to our strength on the track and help us build a winning team time trial squad, which creates a strong core for all events during the road and cross seasons.” Marian College cycling has won 11 national collegiate track cycling championships in 14 years including the last three straight. Individuals who have competed for Marian College cycling have won 41 national championships in individual or team events since Marian College’s first national championship competition in 1992.

Bennet van der Genugten Brief Collegiate Palmares
Track
Collegiate Track National Champion:
Team Pursuit 2008
Italian Pursuit 2008
Men’s Omnium 2007
Men’s Kilometer 2007
Team Pursuit 2006

Road
MidWest Collegiate Cycling Conference Overall Champion 2008
MidWest Collegiate Cycling Conference Regional Road Race Champion 2008
Michigan State University Circuit Race – Champion 2007
Western Michigan University Road Race – Champion 2007
Western Michigan University Criterium – Champion 2007
MidWest Collegiate Cycling Conference Criterium – Champion 2007
Purdue University Criterium – Champion 2006
Georgia Institute of Technology Road Race – Champion 2005
Vanderbilt University Road Race – Champion 2005
University of Georgia Road Race – Champion 2005
Southeast Conference Championship Overall Champion 2005

Marian College Knights: www.marian.edu/athletics
Marian College - |00 Cold Spring Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46222

To contribute to, or start a Cycling Scholarship fund through Marian Collge contact  John Finke at jfinke@marian.edu 

• Discuss this race and the sport with other cycling fans from around the world on the Daily Peloton.com Forums and Chat Room.
• Sponsor the daily peloton & advertise your product - contact us.
• Do you have a passion for cycling and a yen to write? contact us.