Local Youth Recognized For Cool-headed Assistance

By GWENDOLYN WEILER

Moapa Valley Progress

Twelve-year-old Austin Monk, from Logandale, made history as he held up the Motorcycle Racers Association of Nevada (MRAN) Sportsmanship Award presented to him by MRAN President Roy Ulrich at the Silver State Trail Blazers race held in Panaca, NV, on May 19.

MRAN usually gives one Sportsmanship Award at the end of each year, said Ulrich. It usually goes to an adult. In fact, Ulrich said he has never seen a minor receive the award, nor has he ever seen one given out mid-year. However, this year MRAN made an exception because of Monk’s exceptional acts of heroism during the MRAN Ground Shakers motorcycle race held in Panaca on April 28.
“I literally had this award made quickly so I could give it to him at the next race,” said Ulrich. “He just blew us all away.”

During his April race, Monk was well into his third 12-mile loop when he said he came to a particularly rough area on the trail and saw another rider lying on the side of the road without his helmet on. Monk said he stopped and asked the rider, 10-year-old Cole Sasso of Las Vegas, if he was alright, but after a quick exchange, he could tell that Sasso was disoriented and needed help.
“He said, ‘Where am I?’ So, I knew he had fell down hard,” Monk said.

Monk had a radio with him and called the race administrator for help. Then he stayed with Sasso until one of the sweepers—those who patrol the course for injured riders—came to help and told Monk to get back on his bike and go.

Ulrich said he was most impressed by Monk’s calmness. “He was very focused on telling me where, how, and when,” said Ulrich.

Austin’s father, Blake Monk, said it’s very unusual for riders to have radios with them, but he always requires his son to have one just in case.
“I’ve always told him that I don’t care if he is losing a race or if he’s winning a race—if somebody’s hurt he is always to stop and help,” Blake Monk said. “That’s more important.”

In spite of stopping for ten to fifteen minutes, Austin still went on to the win his race.
Sasso, who was diagnosed with a concussion, said he can’t remember anything from that race, but “I think that it’s good someone actually stopped for me and didn’t just keep riding.”

Austin’s mother, Stephanie Kempel, said she knows Austin could be on the other side of this coin one day.
“Every time he goes out, I think about it,” said Kempel, “but it’s what he likes to do, and you have to let them spread their wings a little bit and figure out where they want to go. This is one of his things he loves to do, so we just put a smile on and hope nothing bad happens—rooting for him every step of the way.”