Sofie Hancock currently attends Young Guns Running Group @ Casis and is in 3rd grade. Sofie is a great athlete who leads others by being a shining example. Sofie and some of her friends just recently ran in the Color Me Rad 5K, and Sofie placed in the Junior 'Dillo in 2013. Aside from running, Sofie enjoys playing soccer and basketball. Sofie hopes to play basketball and run track for O’Henry and then Austin High. Her dream is to play college ball one day. 

Sofie enjoys good times with her close friends and family. If she’s outside and moving, she’s her happiest! When she grows up, Sofie’s dream is to open her very own “Paws of Love” Dog Hospital and shelter.

Congratulations to Sofie H. for being Young Guns January Athlete of the Month!

Elliot Ruggero currently attends Young Guns Running Group @ Gullett Elementary School and is in the 5th grade. Elliot is one of those kids who is born to run and have fun while doing so. Elliot's fastest mile time is seven minutes, and he regularly strives to improve his mile time. Elliot also enjoys playing soccer with NASA (which running with Young Guns really helps), as well as bike riding. 

Elliot says this about Young Guns: "I really just love running, especially with friends. I like learning how to pace myself. I like the stretches because they help me remember muscles for PE." Elliot is considering running track in middle school, and really enjoys having Coach Laura Dooley and Katherine Fields help him improve his running. 

Congratulations Elliot for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Joanna Sanders currently attends Young Guns Track Team @ O Henry Middle School and is in 6th grade. Joanna is a hard working runner who comes to YG's with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Joanna first became interested in running during YG's Saturday workouts on the hike and bike trail. Joanna and other Zilker students formed a team and ran in the Zilker Relays placing 5th out of 30 teams! Aside from running, Joanna has been playing volleyball at the YMCA for the past 4 years. Joanna is also a Girl Scout and earned her Bronze Award in 2011. 

Joanna enjoys the challenge of Young Guns Track Team and likes seeing her progress in being able to run longer distances. She enjoys her coaches Allison Phillips and Cindy Samok and the new friends she has made. 

Congratulations Joanna for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Will Schniederjan is in 4th grade and currently attends Young Guns Running Group @ Casis and Young Guns Biking Group @ Eilers Park. Aside from being extremely active, Will always comes to running and biking group with a great attitude and ready to have fun! Will has really improved his running and biking ability and his coaches are impressed with his determination. Aside from running and biking, Will plays basketball at WAYA, loves being outdoors, loves fishing, and is a great role model for his younger brother. 

Will's favorite thing about YG's is it helps build his endurance and he loves that the group ends with some fun games! Will recently improved his pacer number during PE and his mile time keeps getting faster and faster. He says "Young Guns is fun no matter what!"

Congratulations Will for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Piper Pizzo is in 3rd grade and currently attends Young Guns Biking Group @ Eilers Park. Piper loves biking and has competed in the following events: Cyclocross Texas State Cup Series and received 3rd place in women 10-14 division (2012-2013) and 2nd place (2013-2014) Piper will be turning ten this year, but has been racing up and is very successful! Piper also plays recreational soccer, is a member of Barton Hills Choir, and plays the guitar. Piper loves being a part of Cyclocross Project 2015 and is looking forward to racing with Bicycle Sport Shop in the National Cyclocross Championship, which will be in Zilker Park in Jan of 2015!  

Piper's favorite thing about YG's is everything (she said it was too hard to pick)!! She enjoys being able to ride with friends and had a great time at YG's Spring Break Camp!

Congratulations Piper for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Maddox Restivo is going into 4th grade and currently attends Young Guns Running Group @ Casis as well as YG's Cycle the City Summer Camp. Maddox has completed two kids triathlons and loves to run the Turkey Trot with his mom. Aside from Young Guns, Maddox plays soccer with Westlake Youth Soccer Academy, loves to read, is part of Eanes Elementary Chess Club, and recently started playing 3 on 3 basketball. 
Maddox has been running with Young Guns for a few years now, and his coaches love his positive attitude, his desire to improve, and how hard he works. Maddox's favorite thing about YG's is getting away from school work and getting to participate in fun activities. He also loves biking all over Austin and getting to cool off in a run through the splash pads.

Congratulations Maddox for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Ellie, Lucy, and Sally Phillips are going into 5th grade and Liam Phillips will be going into 1st grade. All four of the Phillips kiddos attended Young Guns Cycle the City Summer Camp and were excellent leaders. Aside from biking and running with Young Guns, Ellie, Lucy, and Sally participate in dance, basketball, and Girl Scouts. Liam stays active with baseball, soccer, and tennis. Aside from the many sports they are involved in, the Phillips kids just love to actively play outdoors and have fun! 

Ellie's favorite thing about YG's is that the coaches are really nice and she loves the exercise. Lucy's favorite thing is riding her bike all over Austin and getting to be with her family (even her mom who is one of the biking camp coaches). Sally's favorite thing is the games we play and getting to be with her family. And Liam says there are too many favorite things...he loves them all! 

Congratulations Ellie, Lucy, Sally, and Liam for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Adam Reisman is going into 4th grade and participates in Young Guns Running Group at Casis. Adam has been participating in YG's for several years now, and always has a great attitude and drive to improve. During the summer, Adam competed in the USA Track & Field Junior Olympic Regional Championship and competed in the 1500 meter run (6:58, a PR), shot put (11'10"), and long jump (7'11", a PR). Adam competes in numerous track meets around town, specializing in distance events, and he has competed in the "Inspire Kids to Tri" triathlon the past 3 years.

Aside from running with Young Guns, Adam also runs YMCA track, runs with Austin Speedsters Track and Field, plays golf, soccer, and tennis. Adam's favorite thing about Young Guns is running the mile time trial. Adam's coaches love working with him because he works hard, has a great attitude, and has grown as an athlete over the past few years.

Congratulations Adam for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Caitlin Keeney, pictured in the middle next to her mom and twin sister, is going into 6th grade and participates in Young Guns Running Group at Gullett. Caitlin has been participating in YG's for past two years and loves to run! Caitlin ran in the kids mile run for the Capitol 10K and finished in six minutes. Caitlin also ran in the Run to the Sun 2K Fun Run and finished in 8'45".

Aside from running with Young Guns, Caitlin plays the guitar and loves math! Caitlin's favorite thing about Young Guns is getting to run with her friends and with her mom, YG's Coach Katherine Fields. Caitlin's coaches love her great attitude, her drive to improve, and her love of running! 

Congratulations Caitlin for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Timmy G. is in 6th grade and participates in Young Guns Biking Group @ Bryker Woods. Timmy is such a great role model to the younger bikers in his biking group, and always has a positive attitude. Timmy learned to ride his bike when he was four, and has had a passion for riding ever since then. His love for biking is evident with his biking to and from school, BMX biking, and biking around the park for fun. 

Aside from biking with Young Guns, Timmy loves playing flag football and he also participates in lacrosse, wrestling, and paintballing. Timmy's favorite thing about Young Guns is getting to ride on the Shoal Creek Trail. Timmy's coaches love the leadership roles he takes on and his knowledge of biking.

Congratulations Timmy for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Ginna Allen is in 2nd grade and participates in Young Guns Biking Group @ Eiler's Park. Ginna always comes to biking group with a positive attitude, is willing to try her best, and doesn't mind being the only girl in the group! Ginna is an avid biker and she always practices her hand signals and biking etiquette when she's riding around her neighborhood. Ginna also enjoys staying active by running, rollerskating, doing gymnastics and playing baseball with her big brother Michael.  

Aside from being active, Ginna loves animals, especially horses! Ginna also loves to read, climb a good tree, and participates in after school activities such as Math Pentathlon and is in a Brownie troop. Ginna's favorite thing about Young Guns is exercising with new friends after school and seeing parts of Austin on her bike that she hasn't been to before! Ginna's coaches love her drive, her great attitude, and her love of biking! 

Congratulations Ginna for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!

Zachary Allday is in 6th grade and participates in Young Guns Running Group @ Gullett. Zachary developed a love for running in 2012 when he began running with his dad. He loves to run the mile and always volunteers to run longer distances when the YG coaches allow.   He ran his first 5k in 2012 and plans on pursuing cross country next year in 7th grade. Aside from Young Guns, Zachary also plays left midfield on his NASA soccer team, the Phoenix, and has been playing soccer since kindergarten. Zachary started playing the trombone in the Lamar Middle School Band this year.

Zachary's favorite thing about Young Guns is running the mile and running relays with his other runners. Zachary's coaches say Zachary is a strong runner and a strong leader. Zachary works hard and models exemplary behavior and athletic skills.

Congratulations Zachary for being Young Guns Athlete of the Month!