Approximately 30 students competed for spray-painted trophies and other prizes, with the opportunity to represent Westminster College for the first time at the State Bouldering Competition April 10.
“This was a qualifying competition for the Utah Competition, meaning that the top two from each skill category are invited to compete at their competition,” said Tate Michener, a senior outdoor education major and co-organizer of the event.
Westminster hosted the semi-annual spring Bouldering Competition March 31 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with finals at 10:00 p.m. at the Bishop’s Wall in the Health, Wellness and Athletic Center.
The event was a qualifier for the Utah Collegiate Boulder Competition April 10 at the University of Utah, according to Weber State University’s Campus Recreation site.
The competition was open to all levels of climbers, according to Michener. Michener said students who had never climbed before and skilled climbers who have spent many hours on the wall participated.
Liam McGee, a first-year environmental science major, said he started climbing this year. McGee said he decided to join the competition because he knew it would be a fun time to hang out and climb.
“I haven’t been climbing long,” McGee said. “I mostly just do it [as] a fun exercise.”
Talmage Sanders, a senior neuroscience major, said he has been bouldering off and on for over six years.
“Comps are always just a ton of fun, good vibes, great to watch people crush some projects,” Sanders said. “It’s just a fun atmosphere even if you’re not a top climber.”
There were three categories of competition in the March 31 qualifier: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Advanced:
- 1st: Talmage Sanders, senior neuroscience major
- 2nd: Dylan Scott, senior neuroscience major
- 3rd: Travis Goodin, junior environmental science major
Intermediate:
- 1st: Maxwell Mertz, a senior environmental science major
- 2nd: Gabe Medina, a first-year undeclared major
- 3rd: Lucy Wilks, senior art major
Beginner:
- 1st Place Tie: Dixon Colston, first-year undeclared major, and Chris Ledyard, first-year undeclared major
- 2nd: Morgan Nicholson, senior outdoor education and leadership major
Sponsors of the competition included: Black Diamond, Crazy Creek, Pit Viper, Momentum Climbing Gym, The Front Climbing Gym, Gnarly Nutrition and WorldWide Trekking.
