SALT LAKE CITY—Westminster College Director of Athletics Shay Wyatt announced today the hiring of Sage Maaranen as the next Head Coach of the men's and women's cycling team.  The cycling program was added to the college's intercollegiate athletic program in the Fall of 2017 and consists of both mountain and road cycling disciplines.  Westminster College has 15 NCAA II sport teams and six non-NCAA sport teams competing within the intercollegiate athletics.

"We look forward to Sage joining our staff and supporting her efforts in continuing to develop our Men's and Women's Cycling Program", said Wyatt. "Her knowledge, experience and passion for the sport will be instrumental with continuing the growth of this emerging program."
 
A native of New Mexico, Maaranen is the Owner of Sage Training Multisport, which provides training services for triathletes, cyclists and swimmers.  Maaranen  holds coaching certifications with USA Cycling, USA Masters Swim and USA Triathlon. She currently serves as the Head Swim Coach at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. An avid triathlete, cyclist and swimmer, Maaranen  graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri with Bachelor's degrees in both Anthropology and Journalism.
 
"This is a team with a lot of potential, and I look forward to accompanying these athletes as they chase their individual and team goals," Maaranen says. "It will be great fun for us to work together to grow the team and encourage collegiate participation in competitive cycling."
 
The cycling program competes in the Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference as a club under USA Cycling, www.usacycling.com. For more information on the Westminster Cycling program visit WestminsterGriffins.com or contact Coach Maaranen at smaaranen@westminstercollege.edu
 
About USA Cycling
USA Cycling is the official cycling organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Cycling Union (UCI), and is responsible for identifying, training, and selecting cyclists to represent the United States in international competition. In addition to preparing elite-level athletes for world-class competition, USA Cycling aims to ensure the ongoing safety and development of the sport in America.
 
About Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference
The Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference (IMCCC) is a collection of cycling clubs representing colleges and universities from Utah, East Nevada, and Southeast Idaho. We are one of eleven conferences that make up the collegiate program of USA Cycling, the national governing body of cycling in the United States. Our athletes compete in road, mountain, and cyclocross racing throughout the academic year at the conference level with hopes of qualifying for the USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships.
 
About Westminster College
Westminster is a private, independent, and comprehensive college in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students experience the liberal arts blended with professional programs in an atmosphere dedicated to civic engagement. With the goal of enabling its graduates to live vibrant, just, and successful lives, Westminster provides transformational learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students in a truly student-centered environment. Faculty focus on teaching, learning, and developing distinctive, innovative programs, while students thrive on Westminster's urban Sugar House campus within minutes of the Rocky Mountains. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu or follow WestminsterSLC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.