Goat Fort Thundering Herd climbers, pictured, from left, are: Grant Criswell, Coleman Miller, Nina Harrington, Elodie Criswell, Eloise Harrington, Lily White and Natalie Muntz. Submitted photo

After a long competition season, seven Warren area climbers have qualified to compete in the USA Climbing Regional Championships on Saturday.

These athletes began their season last September and have traveled to Cincinnati, Mishawaka, Indiana, Akron, Ohio, and Pittsburgh to compete in a series of qualifying events in an effort to earn their spot at this championship event.

The USA Climbing Region 62 Championships will feature the top youth climbers from Indianapolis to Morgantown, West Virginia, and will determine which athletes will earn their place at the divisional championships in May.

The top 16 climbers in each category (top 13 for the Under-13 category) at this event will advance to divisionals.

Warren athletes are currently ranked as follows: Elodie Criswell, fourth; Lily White, seventh; Nina Harrington, ninth; Eloise Harrington, 14th; Grant Criswell, 16th; Natalie Muntz, 20th; and Coleman Miller, 33rd.

Many of the climbers have experience competing at the regional level.

For veterans White and Muntz, this is their fifth year in a row. Siblings Grant and Elodie Criswell will be making their fourth trip. Miller and Nina Harrington will be returning to this event for the second year in a row. This will be Eloise Harrington’s first time competing at this championship event.

The Goat Fort Thundering Herd has represented the Warren area at this event for five years now, and has finished in the top 10 — as a team — every year, including a seventh-place finish last season.