BUMPASS, VA - On April 12, 2025, the Owls of Warren Wilson College traveled to Virginia for the "Rumpus in Bumpus" triathlon event, coming back strong after Hurricane Helene. Despite the struggles of the past, the Owls managed to show up and compete against other strong athletes, proving their mental and physical strength.

One of the standout performances came from Natalie Helser, an Owl who finished 2nd place overall, with a time of 1:32:54.5. The Freshman from Saint Ignatius, Montana had a swimming pace of 2:25, a biking pace of 18.3mph, and a running pace of 8:45, an outstanding and remarkable performance. 

Another incredible account of strength was shown by Ellery Rather, who placed third, just after her teammate Hesler. She finished with a time of 1:36:32.5, proving herself a strong athlete and an even stronger competitor.

Furthermore, Lola Hewitt placed 8th overall, with a finishing time of 1:56:16.8, displaying the same level of competition as her peers. 

The team's strong display of athleticism at the Rumpus in Bumpus Triathlon Race encourages us all to have strength after the flood. As their meets were canceled and everyone's life came to a halting pause, Swannanoa was shaken. But just a few months afterwards, these strong and powerful athletes rose to the occasion of their last meet of the year, finishing strong and keeping the bar high for the Owls.