WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – The Midwestern State cycling team held its annual team presentation at the Clark Student Center Wednesday night on Feb. 11 before beginning its season on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Sponsors, media and others attended to learn and hear from the 2026 cyclists and new team director Mario Arroyave.
After cyclist introductions, Arroyave and team members talked about their confidence levels and goals heading into the season, including winning a national title.
“I feel fantastic about our chances of, you know, winning a national title this year. The kids did a really good job over Christmas break and kind of the winter months to put in the miles,” Arroyave said. “They’ve laid the foundation for us to do really well.”
Emma Kasza-James, one of the team’s cyclists competing in the women’s A category, shares some of the high confidence for the upcoming season with Arroyave.
“Just seeing our results from this past weekend, I think we are not only going to dominate but going to do it with excitement and energy and just all good things,” Kasza-James said.
Amid the individual accolades the team’s cyclists could accomplish this year, the team is focused on a greater goal.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say our main goal is nationals,” Kasza-James said. “I think everything that we do is going to be aimed at that. That is the goal for the season.”
Another cyclist on the team, Dušan Kalaba, also said that winning the Collegiate National Championships is one of the team’s primary goals.
“Conference [championship] is also on the way. However, nationals has its own weight,” Kalaba said.
The MSU cycling team competes in the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference (SCCCC). Its 2026 schedule is listed below.
Feb. 14-15: Texas A&M (host school)
Feb. 28-March 1: La Primavera (Lago Vista, TX)
March 14-15: Texas State University (host school)
March 28-29: Hardin Simmons University (host school)
April 18-19: Midwestern State University (SCCCC Championship)
May 7-10: Collegiate National Championships (Madison, WI)
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