Submitted photo

The Goat Fort Thundering Herd climbing team is back in action, competing in the USA Climbing fall bouldering season. A few of the team’s more experienced climbers ventured to Cleveland to take advantage of an early qualifying event. Recently, USA Climbing announced that the boulders were going to be harder this season and that proved to be true in Cleveland. Many of the routes completely blanked all of the climbers, and several of the top scoring athletes didn’t even manage a single top. Regardless, the Thundering Herd was up for the challenge and the kids climbed well. In the Female Youth C category Lily White, back right, placed seventh and Natalie Muntz, back center, placed fourth; in the Male Youth D category Grant Criswell, back left, placed eighth; and in the Female Youth D category Elodie Criswell, front, placed second. This was a fantastic result for an early season competition and all four athletes are well on their way to qualifying for the USAC Regional Championships in January. The team’s next competition will be this coming Saturday in Pittsburgh.