The competition featured the best young climbers from southern Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The pressure was high. Each climber would only have four minutes on each of four separate climbs. It wasn’t enough to be a good climber. It was critical for athletes to be able to manage their energy, attempts, and time. Their entire season boiled down to only 16 minutes. And to top it all off, this format did not allow for any coaching. These kids were quite literally on their own.

The day started early. The first climbers were ushered into the “isolation” zone at 7 a.m. This is where the athletes would warm up and prepare to climb. It was blocked off, completely separate from the competition area. In this type of competition, climbers are not allowed to have any information concerning the climbing challenges, so a great deal of effort is placed on keeping them “isolated.” The area felt small. Throughout the day this space would accommodate well over 200 athletes, plus coaches and officials — all crammed into this space preparing to climb: moving around, climbing the walls and stretching. It was a struggle to control nerves. And with so many athletes vying for space to climb and warm up, it was difficult to prepare.

Once the athletes left ISO they quickly moved through their boulders: climb for four minutes, rest for four minutes, repeat four times. It all happens so fast. There’s barely any time to think, or make adjustments. Often climbers would realize a small change, or something that they missed, just after their time was up. It is a very high pressure situation. Not to mention the extreme physical nature of modern competition climbing. These athletes are regularly dangling from their fingertips; catapulting across the wall ninja-warrior style; and/or in a wrestling match on the ceiling full-body squeezing gripless plastic holds.

Veteran Lily White competed in the Female Under-17 category. She finished eighth and will be advancing to divisionals for the third year in a row.

Eloise Harrington

The Goat Fort had three climbers in the Female Under-13 category, and they dominated. Elodie Criswell finished fourth, Nina Harrington was ninth and Eloise Harrington was 12th. All three will be advancing to divisionals.

Coleman Miller and Grant Criswell competed in the Male Under-15 category. Miller finished 17th and will be advancing to divisionals. Grant Criswell finished 20th.

The next stop will be Indianapolis on May 2-3 for the USA Climbing Divisional Championship. This two-day event will decide which climbers go on to nationals.

Nina Harrington

Elodie Criswell

Lily White

Grant Criswell