‘Major’ differences exist among Little 500 riders

When senior Dylan Wickersham took his first diving class, he didn’t know it would lead him to major in underwater archaeology.\nHe also didn’t know that his major, with a little business twist, would make him stick out from all the other hundreds of Little 500 riders in this year’s race. \nWith most Little 500 riders majoring in business or the sciences, one might wonder: Is the choice of major influenced by riding in Little 5?\nFor Wickersham, choosing to major in underwater archaeology stemmed from a childhood love of searching for things. “When you’re a little kid you go out and look for rocks, so the idea of exploring the underwater is really interesting to me,” he said.\nWickersham rides for the IU men’s rugby team, which qualified for the first time this year. Though he’s not a member of the rugby team, Wickersham decided to be part of a Little 5 team because his roommate plays for them. Though this is his first Little 500, Wickersham said he has been cycling since he was 13.\nWickersham, an environmental major searching for a job, hopes to work with agencies in Florida for shipwrecks or to work on ocean conservation\n“As far as I know, (Little 5) has not influenced my major, as I am a senior and already chose it,” Wickersham said.\nLittle 500 race director Matthew Ewing said business and science majors make up a large number of the riders. Of the 347 registered riders, 108 are business majors and 67 are science majors. Only 280 will ride in the race, though. \n“There are a lot of science majors, whether that’s bio, chemistry or they are into the nutrition sciences,” Ewing said. “Something that I’ve really noticed this year are the number of music-school students, just because a lot of them are rookies and when turning in their schedules it is hard for them to know when they can or can’t be at the track. It’s really neat to incorporate students from the music school.” \nEwing said he doesn’t believe riders choose their major based on the race, but they might change their major as they start to enjoy cycling and exercising. \nEwing received his degree in political science, but after being interested in Little 500 as an undergraduate, earned his masters in kinesiology.\nThere are about 11 majors related to kinesiology, outdoor recreation, therapeutic recreation, fitness specialists and health administration.\nSophomore Scott Mueller, who rides for Black Key Bulls, said his major had nothing to do with Little 500, but rather his intention to go pre-med.\nMueller, a neuroscience major, said his major requirements and Little 500 schedule don’t coincide.\n“It’s a tough balance with classes and riders,” Mueller said. “I study every moment I’m not at the track.”\nHe said he notices a lot of education and business majors on the track. \nOn the other hand, Wing It rider Darcie Kozlowski plays a different tune for her major.\n“I’ve been playing my instrument, the French horn, for about 10 years,” Kozlowski said. “I want to be a performer in a symphony, and my business major is something to fall back on so I can get a job.” \nA music performance and business major, Kozlowski just began riding and will be an alternate rider in her first Little 500 race, but she intends to continue racing.\nWhile her major combines music with business, Kozlowski said she thinks the riders on the track have majors that are equally balanced.\n“It’s a little bit of everything,” she said. “I don’t think there are a lot of music majors, but the majors are diverse across the board.” \n–Sports Editor Michael Sanserino contributed to this story.