Alex Stevenson
Only on rare occasions will you see Alex Stevenson without his bike. And for good reason. This Berkeley High School senior, who has been cycling since seventh grade, will compete for the varsity title of the country this coming summer. Yet, while he has biked head–to–head with the fastest junior class mountain biker in the nation, Alex can still recall his cycling beginnings.
While he had many “epic missions” as a beginning biker, Alex also experienced “horrible incidents of disaster.” When he and his friend James Smith were thirteen, they decided to cycle down Mt. Diablo. Unfortunately, they did not come equipped for the descent. “After riding a significant way down, we realized that we got a flat tire,” Alex smiles while reminiscing. After putting a tube into his wheel, the tire deflated once again. With no cell phone reception, the two had to walk their bikes down the mountain until they met someone who helped them out. After years of training with the BHS team headed by coach and role model Austin McIerny, Alex has advanced to riding in the varsity category for the mountain biking state championships. Alex considers his strength to be climbing.
“That man … is unbelievably fit up hills,” confirms fellow cyclist and friend BHS senior Chet Mahoney. But Chet also emphasizes “the size of his cojones down hills,” and sure enough, Alex’s prodigious ascents and descents have earned him a place in the semi-professional junior development program Whole Athlete.
In addition to his talent as a biker, Alex is also a visual artist and musician. He often carries his drawing pad with him, whose pages range from elaborate lettering to sketches of beetles. Alex’s Advanced Placement Statistics teacher Gideon Goldman can attest to his musical skills: “I like him. I gave him an A because he plays music,” states the jazz aficionado. Alex has not only played trumpet since he was twelve, but also drums, and has also dappled in piano, guitar, and has intentions to pick up bass. When he isn’t cycling, eating spring rolls at Little Plearn, or cultivating trees as an arborist, starting next fall Alex can be found studying to get his prerequisites at Berkeley City College. After college, Alex hopes to cycle professionally.
On top of his artistic and athletic skills, Alex has an amiable personality and a charming sense of humor. “Alex is … an extremely caring and compassionate person,” Alex’s friend BHS senior Lucia Charman affirms enthusiastically. “I feel honored to know him.”
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