Reaching the top is forever.

A few months ago, there was no youth climbing team in Warren County.

Now, after their final qualifying competition of their first year, the members of the Goat Fort have a shot at qualifying for regionals.

On Saturday, Dec. 11, Goat Fort competed at Iron City Boulders in Pittsburgh.

“It is great to see each of our athletes improving from one competition to the next,” Coach Dana Harrington said. “All of our climbers were able to top boulders.”

The competing Goat Fort climbers were Lily Lindell, third in female junior; Sara Sokolski, 11th in female youth A; Lily White, fourth in female youth D; Audrey Gillies, 10th in female youth D; Natalie Muntz, 11th in female youth D; Isaac Sheldon, eighth in male youth A; Atreyu Laska, ninth in male youth A; Henry Gillies, 14th in male youth C; and Chase Long, ninth in male youth D.

“Still, we still have a lot to learn,” Harrington said. “In some cases they are using way too many attempts to score zones, or tops. Or in other cases, only figuring out the sequence or technique after becoming too fatigued to execute the moves.”

“But, make no mistake, they are fiercely determined,” he said. “Our team was climbing hard right to the end, topping boulders with only seconds to go. And in more than one case, climbing until their fingers were actually bleeding.

“With four of the five qualifying competitions in the rear-view mirror, we have likely seen most of the climbers in our region and our kids are performing remarkably well,” Harrington said. “All of our athletes are in the hunt for an invite to the regional competition. It’s amazing. Just a few months ago we didn’t even have a climbing team.”

The final qualifier is in Michigan, and Goat Fort will not be traveling to that one.

So, the team members have done all they can.

“We will have to wait to see how it all shakes out,” Harrington said.