Photo submitted to Times Observer Team Allegheny Outfitters won the inaugural season of the Warren Youth Climbing League. Team members, from left, are Leonora Ignatius, Ava Wymer, Scarlett Wymer, Olivia Bailey, Eloise Harrington, Coach Taylor Huey, Nina Harrington, Isabella Smith, and Coach Isiss Pratz.

The inaugural season of the Warren Youth Climbing League came to an end this week and the climbers were at a high level.

“The WYCL Championships were held Monday at The Goat Fort,” League administrator Dana Harrington said. “Five teams were vying for the season title. With a perfect 4-and-0 record, Bent Run was the obvious favorite to win.”

The climbers from Slick Text, Whirley, and Kinzua Vet Clinic were first up. “Each team posted a season-best score, and the tone of the evening was set,” Harrington said. “All of the athletes were bringing their best. Henry Gillies and Lane Morrison led the way for Slick Text posting season-best scores of 856 and 708 points respectively. Whirley’s Grant Criswell and Natalie Muntz bettered those marks with 908 and 822 points.”

Whirley took the early lead – 3,181 to 3,093.

“Lily White’s 1,288 points along with strong performances from her teammates Coleman Miller (686) and Gabriella Bango (588) placed Kinzua Vet Clinic solidly in the lead at the end of the first session with 3,765 points,” he said.

Bent Run came out strong, with 1,012 from Chase Long, 908 from Elodie Criswell, and matching 802s from Nina Woldt and Elsie Woldt.

“The underdog Allegheny Outfitters were determined to not be outdone,” Harrington said. “A couple of early tops of hard climbs by Ava Wymer and twin sisters Nina and Eloise Harrington set the tone, and the points just kept piling up.”

All of the team members posted personal bests with three — Nina Harrington (1,140), Eloise Harrington (1,128), and Ava Wymer (1,056) — scoring over 1,000.

Scarlett Wymer (588), Leonora Ignatius (588), Olivia Bailey (456), and Isabella Smith (354) rounded out the scoring for Allegheny Outfitters.

“In the end, AO claimed the season title and handed Bent Run their only loss of the season with a final score of 5,310 to 4,326,” Harrington said. “For a team that started the season 0-and-2, it was quite the Cinderella story.”

“I am honored to have coached such a wonderful group of girls, they worked so hard and deserved to be seen and recognized for the effort and passion they put in their climbing,” Allegheny Outfitters Coach Isiss Pratz said. “It was amazing to see how far they’ve come, and how dedicated they were through the journey. I learned just as much from them as they may have from me, and I know they will all continue to do incredible things.”

“Bent Run has been impressive from the start,” Harrington said. “They are talented, hardworking, and should be recognized for consistently performing at a very high level. However, the AO girls were inspired. Each time one of their teammates got a top it lit a fire in the rest of them. They were focused and determined; I’ve never seen them try harder.”

There were individual awards given at the close of the competition.

Brody Moore of Kinzua Vet Clinic was named Most Improved Climber.

Lane Morrison of Slick Text was awarded Rookie of the Year.

Lily White of Kinzua Vet Clinic, with the highest season average among all competitors of 1,136, was the MVP.