If you like mud, a lot of mud, you’d almost have to be a fan of cyclocross — the bicycle sport that has riders jumping on and off their bikes through mud, grass and pavement. If you are a fan of cyclocross and you’re from Kitsap, you need to follow Zach McDonald.

McDonald is a Bainbridge Island native and a freshman at the University of Washington. He’s also a two-time national champion and finished third in a World Cup race in France last year — it’s a big deal, trust us.

I’m working on a story for sometime next week on McDonald and I’ll be keeping track of him on this blog during the rest of the European and domestic seasons.