RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Top-rated racer has local ties

It's highly unusual for a young lady to compete against her male counterpart in what formally had been classified as an "all men's sport".
What makes this situation so unique is the fact that 17-year-old Nicole Cheza of Clio High School (near Flint, Mich.) is a motorcycle racer and she's one of the best. At 5-foot-1, 110 pounds, Nicole goes up against some of the top drivers in the nation and get this, she beats them.
Nicole has been racing since she was 3 years old, when her father, Mark, introduced her to the sport. She decided then and there, this was going to be her sport. She began in motocross and worked her way up to the dirt tracks and to the prospect level in which she is now competing.
Family from area
The young racer has local ties. She is the daughter of Mark and Dawn Cheza of Clio, Mich. Her grandparents are Bob and Bev (Trice) Cheza, both 1952 graduates of Sharon High. Bob was a Tiger basketball standout for coach Bud Laycock and played football for John Chickerneo.
Nicole is also the niece of Denny and Marsha Driscoll of Sharon. Denny was formerly basketball coach at Greenville St. Michaels, where he won back-to-back state championships before taking over as football coach at Reynolds High. The local contingent follows Nicole on her racing trail and recently journeyed to Welland, Ontario, Canada to watch her compete in the Grand National Championships.
Nicole has a big following from the Canadian fans. They love her and cheer her on in each of her performances.
"She even has T-shirts that sell like hot cakes," said Marsha Driscoll. "The Canadians just love to watch her perform."
She has already become a big-time performer due to a number of exciting races. At the Ben Campanele Half-Mile at the Rochester (N.H.) Fairgrounds, she not only won the race but lapped the entire field. In a Dash for Cash four-lap race, Nicole went up against some of the top Pro-National riders in the country, including Kenny Coolbeth, Bryan Smith, Ricky Winsett and Aaron Creamer. If any one race proved this little bundle of dynamite was for real, it was this tremendous performance.
Many awards
Her list of laurels are many, including winning the 80 Class mile at the Amateur Nationals, finishing in the top three of the 125 Class at the Amateur Nationals and the 2002 Female Rider of the Year Award. She has won the 400 National Championship two years in a row. She was also featured in a story in The Motorcyclist's Post, a racing magazine.
While motorcycle racing is her No. 1 priority, Nicole loves snowboarding, gymnastics, volleyball and cheerleading. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about Nicole in the near future. She has the courage and talent to become one of racing's all-time bests.
Nicole's calendar of events have carried her far and wide as she has competed. No matter where she races though, she loves the competition and even more, she loves to "beat the guys."