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WARREN, Pa. – Allegheny Outfitters saved its absolute best for last as its entire team posted personal bests en route to a 5,310-4,326 upset over top-ranked Bent Run for the Warren Youth Climbing League title on Monday.
AO started the season 0-2, but came all the way back to win the league title. The loss was Bent Run’s first of the season after going 4-0.
“Bent Run has been impressive from the start,” League Administrator Dana Harrington said. “They are talented, hardworking, and should be recognized for consistently performing at a very high level. However, the AO girls were inspired. Each time one of their teammates got a top it lit a fire in the rest of them. They were focused and determined; I’ve never seen them try harder.”
True to form, Bent Run climbers Chase Long, Elodie Criswell, Nina Woldtz, and Elsie Woldt all posted scores over 800 points: 1012, 908, 802, and 802 respectively. However, the underdog Allegheny Outfitters were determined to not be outdone. A couple of early tops of hard climbs by Ava Wymer and twin sisters Nina and Eloise Harrington set the tone, and the points just kept piling up.
The entire team posted personal best marks, with three climbers over 1,000 points. AO team scores were as follows: Nina Harrington (1140), Eloise Harrington (1128), Ava Wymer (1056), Scarlett Wymer (588), Leonora Ignatius (588), Olivia Bailey (456), and Isabella Smith (354).
“I am honored to have coached such a wonderful group of girls, they worked so hard and deserved to be seen and recognized for the effort and passion they put in their climbing,” AO coach Isiss Pratz said. “It was amazing to see how far they’ve come, and how dedicated they were through the journey. I learned just as much from them as they may have from me, and I know they will all continue to do incredible things!”
Individual achievements were also recognized on the league’s final event of the season. Brody Moore of Kinzua Vet Clinic was the season’s Most Improved Climber, Lane Morrison of Slick Text was the Rookie of the Year, and Lily White of Kinzua Vet Clinic was the MVP with the highest season average of 1,136 points.
The event was divided into two sessions to allow climbers sufficient time to attempt all the climbs.
The first teams to climb were Slick Text, Whirley, and Kinzua Vet Clinic. Each team posted a season best score, and the tone of the evening was set—all of the athletes were bringing their best.
Henry Gillies and Lane Morrison led the way for Slick Text. Both posted season best scores of 856 and 708 points, respectively. Whirley’s Grant Criswell and Natalie Muntz bettered those marks with 908 and 822 points, and with the help of their team, Whirley was ahead 3,181 to 3,093. However, Lily White’s 1,288 points along with strong performances from her teammates Coleman Miller (686) and Gabriella Bango (588) placed Kinzua Vet Clinic solidly in the lead at the end of the first session with 3,765 points.
