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Christopher Cariaso

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

Hi! My name is CJ Cariaso. I’m an 18-year-old professional BMX racer from Tucson, Arizona, and an aspiring business major at the University of Tulsa. I’m also a USABMX-certified coach, and my long-term goal is to use the skills I gain in college to turn local BMX beginner leagues and developmental clinics into a nationwide organization, one that rivals Little League in accessibility and impact. Through BMX, I hope to give kids the same opportunities for personal growth that I experienced, while encouraging them to be active, have fun outdoors, and build confidence through an alternative sport. I also aim to inspire the next generation of riders through my own journey toward the Olympic Games. I have strong experience in business and digital media, including running a vending machine business, launching an online store for custom 3D-printed BMX number plates, and leading a creative action plan at Asbury Automotive that increased social media engagement by 1185%. Since 2022, I’ve also served as Digital Media Manager for Rise of the Prospects MMA, overseeing live event production, commentary, and social growth. In BMX, I founded a Tucson-based Beginner League and TrainChulaAZ, a professional training club partnered with the U.S. Olympic Training Center that helped reopen its BMX facility and expand elite access for Arizona riders. Academically, I am a high school senior with a 4.0 unweighted and 4.2 weighted GPA, perfect AP scores in English Language and Calculus, the CFSD Gold Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, and experience as a peer mentor creating fun YouTube tutorials!

Education

Catalina Foothills High School

High School
2022 - 2026

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Business/Commerce, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Sports

    • Dream career goals:

      Olympic Champion, Build Nationwide Beginner League, Inspire Next Generation

    • Digital Media Intern

      Asbury Automotives
      2025 – Present1 year

    Sports

    Cycling

    Club
    2015 – Present11 years

    Awards

    • 25+ Individual National Wins
    • 5x AZ State Champion
    • 2x Team USA World Team
    • 2x Southwest Regional Champion

    Research

    • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

      OneLife Health and Fitness — Subject
      2026 – Present

    Arts

    • YouTube

      Videography
      146+ BMX YouTube Videos
      2021 – Present

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      Friends of PACC — Vending Business Owner
      2023 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Spark the Change Scholarship
    Winner
    Growing up, I had two dreams: to become an Olympic gold medalist BMX racer and to own a massive marble mansion with a waterpark, like Celine Dion. While pursuing BMX at a professional level, I quickly realized that financial stability would not come from racing alone. That understanding pushed me to explore business early, and those experiences ultimately shaped how I give back to my community today. My first venture was a vending business that grew from a single gumball machine into full-scale vending machines across town. While profitable, it bothered me that unhealthy snacks sold best. Later, I launched an online business designing the only aerodynamic BMX number plate on the market, managing everything from prototyping and manufacturing to digital marketing. Although these ventures did not succeed financially, they taught me critical lessons in leadership, organization, and execution. As I transitioned fully into professional BMX racing, I began looking for ways to apply those skills beyond profit. A turning point came when my coach encouraged me to start coaching, explaining that teaching others strengthens your own understanding. I became CPR, first aid, and USABMX coaching certified and began running weekly clinics at my local track, working with young riders to develop skills, confidence, and sportsmanship. Coaching quickly became one of the most meaningful ways I could give back, allowing me to positively impact kids at the same age when BMX shaped my own life. While training for national and international competition, I also recognized a major barrier for Arizona riders: the lack of access to professional-level BMX tracks. To address this, I began organizing group training trips to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. Through networking and community-building on social media, I helped riders gain access to one of the most exclusive training facilities in the world, eventually contributing to the reopening of its BMX facility. This effort grew into TrainChulaAZ, a professional training club that provides Arizona athletes with elite development opportunities they otherwise would not have. At the local level, I founded a Tucson-based BMX Beginner League designed to introduce kids to competitive cycling in a structured, supportive environment. Through this league, I focus on teaching discipline, confidence, teamwork, and resilience, values that extend far beyond the track. Many of the tools from my earlier business ventures found new purpose, from using old prototypes as clinic rewards to replacing vending sales with lessons on proper nutrition and mindset. Through these experiences, I learned that investing in others creates a return far greater than any financial profit. Giving back to my community through coaching, mentorship, and access to opportunity has given my work meaning and direction. For me, the true reward is not a payday, but hearing a young rider proudly say they learned something new. Purpose, not profit, is the true gold medal, and the real mansion worth building. Through entrepreneurship, I plan to scale the impact I’ve already created by building structured BMX beginner leagues and elite training programs into a nationwide organization that makes the sport accessible, developmental, and community-driven. Academically, I aim to study business to gain the tools needed to sustainably grow these programs while maintaining their mission-first values. I have already given back by founding a local BMX Beginner League, creating professional training access through TrainChulaAZ, mentoring young riders, and using sport to teach confidence, discipline, and opportunity to the next generation.