Fitch grad in first big victory

Anthony Napolitan won the first Dew Action Sports Tour event in Kentucky.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- It wasn't too many years ago that Anthony Napolitan only needed a bike.
Then he needed gloves.
Then a helmet.
Then goggles.
Now he needs a bank account.
The 20-year-old Napolitan won his first Dew Action Sports Tour event title during the Panasonic Open in Louisville, Ky.
The 2004 graduate of Austintown Fitch earned $15,000 for his first-place finish in the BMX Dirt race June 17.
"It's my wildest dream," he said in an article published June 25 in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
"I just couldn't believe it," he added. "It means everything to me. It means everything to my family."
First stop on tour
The Panasonic Open at the Louisville Fair and Exposition Center was the first stop on a five-city 2006 Dew Action Sports Tour that features skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. The next event is the Right Guard Open in Denver, Colo., July 13-16.
Although Napolitan competed in the Panasonic Open last year, he wasn't a factor in the point standings and ended last -- with three points.
In contrast, Ryan Guettler won the 2005 Dew Cup with 412 points.
An injury suffered by Guettler in the Panasonic prelims in June was a big break for Napolitan, although other competitors, such as defending Panasonic Open champion Corey Bohan and Ryan Nyquist, were still in the field.
In fact, Bohan had the lead after the first run and held it until Napolitan pulled off a double tailwhip.
"Lately, it's been kind of hit and miss with that trick," Napolitan told the Courier-Journal. "I'm excited that I could pull through. This is my first big win."
Nyquist had the high score in the preliminaries.
The best combined score of two separate runs determines the winner.
Napolitan had 94.50 on his second run, a score equaled by Luke Parslow of Australia. Napolitan's first-run score of 88.75 compared to Parslow's 80.75 decided the outcome.
Trained at camp
His first major victory didn't come out of the blue.
Determined to improve after 2005, Napolitan embarked on training at Camp Woodward in Pennsylvania.
Currently, he lives at the camp. The son of Vickie Napolitan of Austintown is sponsored by Hoffman Bikes, Target, Right Guard X-Treme, Duffs, OGIO Bags, Woodward Sports Camp, Profile Racing, System Cycle, Dark Matter and Maxxis Tires.
In competition, riders must perform a maneuver during each jump over mounds.
Started in Hubbard
Napolitan got his start in biking in the sixth grade when he rode at now-closed Section Eight skate park in Hubbard.
"I'm still so thankful for that place," Vickie Napolitan said.
Anthony has traveled as a pro for the past several years, picking up sponsors along the way.
"Matt Hoffman [of Hoffman Bikes] picked him up because he realized that Anthony had some talent," Napolitan's mother said.
After Louisville, Napolitan returned home briefly before leaving for Canada where he was to compete in the Red Bull (sports energy drink) Dirt Contest.
The Dew Tour concludes in October.
bassetti@vindy.com