Athlete of the Week: Sarah Shepley

The varsity cycling team zooms around a bend, approaching its first big hill in the New England Championship Race. Each rider pumps their legs with a burst of adrenaline that courses through their bodies. In front of them lies a grueling contest of endurance and strength. This race will leave each cyclist physically and mentally exhausted, yet the athletes are fully prepared to push themselves to the limit. Amidst the whirring sound of each bike chain, a faint yell comes from the top of the hill. Flying over the other side of the incline, senior and co-captain Sarah Shepley begins to attack the rest of the race.

"Usually, teammates from the racing categories that finished before you are waiting by the finish line screaming and cheering you on as you climb up the last hill or last stretch of the course,"

This past season, Exeter cycling won second place overall in New England, thanks to the hard work and encouragement of Shepley. She has been the driving force in the team’s success last season, and now, as a leader of the dynamic set of athletes, she is thrilled to be guiding the team through what should be another exciting season. Shepley’s personality and leadership traits that when combined, create a strong dynamic that effectively leads the team.

Shepley first started cycling during the summer of her sixth grade year. Originally, she cycled as part of triathlons that she was competing in, but fully committed to the sport once she arrived at Exeter. “My first exposure to actual competitive road cycling wasn’t until I came to Exeter and joined the cycling team as a new lower,” Shepley said.

One of the main things that she loves about the sport is being outside for extended periods every day and enjoying the fresh air. “On our longer 30-50 mile rides, the scenery we ride through around the New Hampshire seacoast area is absolutely breathtaking,” Shepley said. “We might be out riding for close to 3 or 4 hours, but it doesn’t get boring because the landscape [we] ride through can be as varied as farmland to the oceanfront.”

Apart from this, Shepley also relishes the feeling after a tough race or practice. “I love how rewarding the sport is. Our road races typically range from 20-25 miles through hilly terrain in the White Mountain area, so when you finish the race, your legs feel like jelly and you’re absolutely exhausted; it’s just a huge sense of accomplishment to think about the difficult course you’ve just tackled,” she explained.

Another aspect of the team she appreciates is the support they give her as she bikes through the finish line. “Usually, teammates from the racing categories that finished before you are waiting by the finish line screaming and cheering you on as you climb up the last hill or last stretch of the course,” Shepley said. “It’s a very team-oriented sport, which is something I really love about being part of the group.”

For Shepley, being a captain means encouraging her teammates to do their best. “Cycling is a very mentally taxing sport, so I love encouraging the other girls during practice when we’re doing efforts or hill repeats to push each other past our limit and seeing us both as a team and individually improve through that group morale,” she said.

Shepley’s teammates know her to be a hard-working captain who also has a great sense of humor. Lower Lhamo Dixey described Shepley as being “incredibly funny and [having] such an amazing spirit.”

Lower Elizabeth Fier shared similar sentiments, adding, “She’s a great captain because she leads by example and puts in as much effort as she expects out of everyone else on the team. She jokes around and is light hearted, but when it comes to improving her riding she puts in the work and determination it takes, no questions asked.”         

The team is looking forward to their first race next Wednesday to start off their season with a win and hopefully place just as well in the championships later this spring. Regardless, Shepley will continue to inspire and lead the team to greatness.     

Fier concluded her thoughts on Shepley, saying, “She jokes around and is light hearted, but when it comes to improving her riding she puts in the work and determination it takes, no questions asked. She doesn’t cut corners and encourages others to follow that.”