In its fifth year, with help from their annual triathlon, the Badgers Tri Club is a growing organization
Williamstown’s triathlon club, nicknamed the Badgers, is hosting its second annual triathlon at Autumn Lake Winery on Aug. 5.
Lou Burgese, the Badger Tri Club president, gave background information on the race’s history.
“The idea came at the [Williamstown] Main Street Festival in 2016,” Burgese said.
He talked to Mark Hernandez, the owner of Autumn Lake Winery, and Brendan Boyle, the vineyard manager at the Autumn Lake winery table.
“A little over a year later, we put on the first race,” Burgese added.
The race begins with a .4-mile swim in Autumn Lake followed by a 13-mile bike ride. Once the bike ride is complete, triathletes will go on a 5K run through the vineyard of Autumn Lake Winery.
For those interested in competing, there are competitors of all ages — last year the youngest triathlete was 13 years old. The most experienced was 76. Last year, there were 240 competitors. This year, they are hoping to hit 300.
There are still spots available to register. Before July 31, the price for an individual is $90. If it doesn’t sell out by race day, there will be a last-minute registration that will be $100.
On race day, check-in is from 5:45 to 7:15 a.m. The race begins at 8 and will be held rain or shine.
The board members like to keep the charity partner local, so it was easy to pick Honor Flight NJ as the charity partner.
“There are several military and ex-military members in the club,” Burgese said. “Representatives from Honor Flight came to a meeting and spoke and we liked the fit.”
The Badger Tri Club is looking for volunteers. Burgese said they are looking for people to work the intersections of the bike course to keep the cyclists safe, people for set up and clean up, registration and packet pick-up and more. He added he can provide a service letter for those in need of community service hours for clubs such as National Honor Society.
The Badger Tri Club was founded in January 2013 by Peggy Giordano, who was president from then until 2017, Dan Seifring, Fred Dunn and Emmeline Renshaw. Burgese claims there are close to 200 members now.
“We started out having meetings in a basement,” he said. “Now we need a conference room.”
Burgese described where the Badger nickname came from.
“One of the original members was doing research on badgers and discovered they are very good swimmers but avoid swimming at all costs,” he said.
For more information about the Badger Tri Club and the Autumn Lake Triathlon, visit http://badgerstri.com/triathlon/ or email Burgese at [email protected].
Lou Burgese, the Badger Tri Club president, gave background information on the race’s history.
“The idea came at the [Williamstown] Main Street Festival in 2016,” Burgese said.
He talked to Mark Hernandez, the owner of Autumn Lake Winery, and Brendan Boyle, the vineyard manager at the Autumn Lake winery table.
“A little over a year later, we put on the first race,” Burgese added.
The race begins with a .4-mile swim in Autumn Lake followed by a 13-mile bike ride. Once the bike ride is complete, triathletes will go on a 5K run through the vineyard of Autumn Lake Winery.
For those interested in competing, there are competitors of all ages — last year the youngest triathlete was 13 years old. The most experienced was 76. Last year, there were 240 competitors. This year, they are hoping to hit 300.
There are still spots available to register. Before July 31, the price for an individual is $90. If it doesn’t sell out by race day, there will be a last-minute registration that will be $100.
On race day, check-in is from 5:45 to 7:15 a.m. The race begins at 8 and will be held rain or shine.
The board members like to keep the charity partner local, so it was easy to pick Honor Flight NJ as the charity partner.
“There are several military and ex-military members in the club,” Burgese said. “Representatives from Honor Flight came to a meeting and spoke and we liked the fit.”
The Badger Tri Club is looking for volunteers. Burgese said they are looking for people to work the intersections of the bike course to keep the cyclists safe, people for set up and clean up, registration and packet pick-up and more. He added he can provide a service letter for those in need of community service hours for clubs such as National Honor Society.
The Badger Tri Club was founded in January 2013 by Peggy Giordano, who was president from then until 2017, Dan Seifring, Fred Dunn and Emmeline Renshaw. Burgese claims there are close to 200 members now.
“We started out having meetings in a basement,” he said. “Now we need a conference room.”
Burgese described where the Badger nickname came from.
“One of the original members was doing research on badgers and discovered they are very good swimmers but avoid swimming at all costs,” he said.
For more information about the Badger Tri Club and the Autumn Lake Triathlon, visit http://badgerstri.com/triathlon/ or email Burgese at [email protected].
Williamstown’s triathlon club, nicknamed the Badgers, is hosting its second annual triathlon at Autumn Lake Winery on Aug. 5.
Lou Burgese, the Badger Tri Club president, gave background information on the race’s history.
“The idea came at the [Williamstown] Main Street Festival in 2016,” Burgese said.
He talked to Mark Hernandez, the owner of Autumn Lake Winery, and Brendan Boyle, the vineyard manager at the Autumn Lake winery table.
“A little over a year later, we put on the first race,” Burgese added.
The race begins with a .4-mile swim in Autumn Lake followed by a 13-mile bike ride. Once the bike ride is complete, triathletes will go on a 5K run through the vineyard of Autumn Lake Winery.
For those interested in competing, there are competitors of all ages — last year the youngest triathlete was 13 years old. The most experienced was 76. Last year, there were 240 competitors. This year, they are hoping to hit 300.
There are still spots available to register. Before July 31, the price for an individual is $90. If it doesn’t sell out by race day, there will be a last-minute registration that will be $100.
On race day, check-in is from 5:45 to 7:15 a.m. The race begins at 8 and will be held rain or shine.
The board members like to keep the charity partner local, so it was easy to pick Honor Flight NJ as the charity partner.
“There are several military and ex-military members in the club,” Burgese said. “Representatives from Honor Flight came to a meeting and spoke and we liked the fit.”
The Badger Tri Club is looking for volunteers. Burgese said they are looking for people to work the intersections of the bike course to keep the cyclists safe, people for set up and clean up, registration and packet pick-up and more. He added he can provide a service letter for those in need of community service hours for clubs such as National Honor Society.
The Badger Tri Club was founded in January 2013 by Peggy Giordano, who was president from then until 2017, Dan Seifring, Fred Dunn and Emmeline Renshaw. Burgese claims there are close to 200 members now.
“We started out having meetings in a basement,” he said. “Now we need a conference room.”
Burgese described where the Badger nickname came from.
“One of the original members was doing research on badgers and discovered they are very good swimmers but avoid swimming at all costs,” he said.
For more information about the Badger Tri Club and the Autumn Lake Triathlon, visit http://badgerstri.com/triathlon/ or email Burgese at [email protected].
