Photo submitted to Times Observer Lily Lindell of the Goat Fort Climbing Team takes on the bouldering wall at the USA Climbing Youth Bouldering Series qualifying event Saturday at Shaker Rocks gym near Cleveland. Nine members of the team competed in the event.

Why did they compete?

Because it was there.

Warren County youth competed in a USA Climbing Youth Bouldering Series qualifying event Saturday at Shaker Rocks gym near Cleveland.

“Nine young climbers from the Warren area’s first ever climbing team traveled to Ohio on Saturday for their first competition,” Coach Dana Harrington, of Goat Fort Indoor Climbing said. “They faced off against over 150 other athletes from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.”

“It was a rare experience, as the competition format was ‘on-site,’ which is the most intense that competitive climbing has to offer,” Harrington said. “With on-site climbing, coaching is not allowed. Each athlete faces four separate, timed climbing challenges. It is a very acute mental and physical contest.”

It can be rough on the coach, too. Harrington wasn’t allowed to watch his team members compete, lest he see the challenges, and be able to coach those who had not yet had their turns.

On-site competition is usually reserved for regional, divisional, or national events, he said.

“Our kids were fantastic,” Harrington said. “This format favors the more experienced climbers. All of our athletes are brand new to the sport, yet they confronted this extreme situation with poise and determination.”

That is not to say there weren’t falls. “In many cases our athletes fell victim to their inexperience,” Harrington said. “However, it was great to see that they can indeed be competitive at this level.”

The Goat Fort team members participating, their divisions, and results were: Chase Long, male youth D –14; Henry Gillies, male youth C — 23; Edward Sokolski, male youth C — 23; Atreyu Laska, male youth A — 18; Lily White, female youth D — 7; Audrey Gillies, female youth D — 11; Natalie Muntz, female youth D — 16; Sara Sokolski, female youth A — 15; and Lily Lindell, female junior — 6.

The Goat Fort Climbing Team is back in action in three weeks in Columbus, Ohio. After that, they will compete in December in Pittsburgh – their last chance to qualify for this year’s USA Climbing Regionals.