During the first half of the 2024 Little 500, Sigma Alpha Epsilon dominated.
For over 100 laps they soared ahead of the pack by as much as 20 seconds ahead. Their steady pace kept a buffer between them and the rest of the cyclists.
Soon that pace started to slow. As the laps kept rolling, SAE’s lead began to shrink. Around lap 150, they had dropped to third. Despite battling back to being neck and neck with Black Key Bulls for some time, their dominant start faded to a whimper as SAE finished sixth.
“It is kind of hurtful to think about,” senior rider Luke Naas said. “But overall, when I look back at it, I’m actually kinda – almost glad it happened because it kinda locked us in to take that next step forward as a program and as a team.”
The Naas family is no stranger to the tracks of Bill Armstrong Stadium. Luke’s younger brother, Matthew, is a sophomore rider for SAE. Their father, Bill, coaches both brothers.
Bill Naas raced in the Little 500 during the 90s before becoming a successful Little 500 coach. He coached both Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Kappa Kappa Gamma to Little 500 victories, leading the latter to five victories from 1996-2006.
Despite ultimately not coming out on top, Bill was extremely proud of the performance his team showed.
“People that really know racing said, ‘Hey, that was really racing. I know it stinks not to win but that was real racing,’” Bill said.
SAE’s preparation for this year’s race began last summer, with an increased urgency after spring break. Oftentimes, thoughts of their previous finish fueled them to push harder.
“They remember what it was like — ‘Hey, we don’t want to feel like that again next year,’” Bill said. “So, we’re going to make sure we’re training every day. We’re going to stack our days. We’re going to do the workouts that we need to do, the hard workouts.”
During spring break, SAE traveled to Cape Coral, Florida, to continue training. Taking advantage of the flat roads and local tracks, the team stayed sharp in preparations for the upcoming qualification races.
As the race crept nearer, the rides got longer and the workouts got tougher.
“Those are things that sometimes you don’t necessarily want to do,” Bill said. “But you understand the end game. So, you get on your bike, you go out there and you put the time in.”
SAE’s training paid off, earning them a second-place finish in the Little 500 men’s qualifications March 29. Their time of 2:24.825 was just over a second behind Black Key Bulls.
Next up for SAE was the three-part long “Spring Series,” with the men’s individual Time Trials taking place April 1. Both Naas brothers shone, with Luke claiming first place with 2:19.47 and Matthew taking fifth place with 2:25.52.
Miss-N-Out took place Friday, where once again, Luke rose above the pack, taking home first place. Matthew rounded out another impressive SAE performance with a sixth-place finish.
For the last event of the “Spring Series,” Team Pursuit took place Sunday, with SAE matching up against BKB in Heat #18. SAE edged out their fellow championship contender by a single second, timing in at 9:38.50.
With no further events taking place before the main event, the men’s race takes place in two weeks' time. While Luke remains steadfast on the ultimate goal, the bigger picture has come into focus as well.
“Obviously, we’re looking to accomplish a Little 500 victory, that’s the end goal,” Luke said. “But as I’m doing this for my fourth time, I start to realize that it’s more important than just winning the race on April 26.”
Unlike his brother Matthew, who has another two years left, Luke is in the endgame of his senior year. It’s his fourth and final attempt at the big dance, and he refuses to take it for granted.
“It’s a lot about the process, again as a senior, it’s something really special,” Luke said.
It’s a sentiment that his father strongly shares. He highlighted how Luke, alongside support from family and alumni, rebuilt SAE’s cycling team from the ground up.
“When he started at SAE, they didn’t have a team for the last two years due to Covid,” Naas said. “So, when he started as a freshman and we encouraged him to consider riding, he really had to start the team from nothing.”
Now, SAE finds themselves as one of the top contenders of the race. They’re a tight knit group of riders, which includes junior Lucas Lemme, a lifelong friend of the Naas family.
“I realized that it’s more than just that trophy,” Luke said. “The process, the journey, the relationships I’ve made with my teammates, with alumni, with other members a part of the Little 500 community and even just support from the house.”
Sigma Alpha Epsilon will take to the track April 26 with its eye on claiming the ultimate redemption. However, they know more than any team that only one team comes out on top.
