Girls Are Climbing Champs!

Sunday marked the final meet in the climbing season. The WAICL Championship meet was held at Earth Treks, Crystal City—a neutral gym where no league participants had climbed all season long. The gym rented out the space for all eleven schools to bring their top six male and top six female climbers and compete in an exciting final competition. The top five scores from each team would count towards the team total, dropping the low score just as in the regular season meets.  Each climber had two hours to try to complete his or her best two top-rope routes and best two bouldering problems.
Episcopal had lofty goals, both individually and as a team. The climbers had worked hard all season long to show their skills in front of parents, friends, and faculty.  EHS had by far the most fans in attendance, a credit to the team and the athletic department's support. The cheers echoed throughout the gym as the climbers finished each route, so there was no doubt who was rocking the climbs.
 
Strategizing using fresh arms to complete top-rope climbs first, most of the Maroon climbers finished their two 40-foot roped climbs early so that they could focus on the bouldering problems. Bouldering was where the most valuable increase in points could be found, and the latter half of the meet would be vital. The short wall problems were challenging at this gym, however, so those points were not easy to come by.
 
Mei Kuo '19, captain and senior leader on the girls team, came off the top of a boulder and injured herself. She was not able to finish out the meet, and that meant that the remaining five girls' scores would have to count. In addition, they had to bounce back from watching their friend and teammate get hurt and find the strength to rally for her.

The Episcopal girles knew that they could win if they worked as a team and followed the game plan. The six senior girls had climbed together for years, knew that they could trust their teammates to get the climbs needed, and believed that if they all were consistent and solid across the board that the team score would be enough. Even when Kuo went out, the girls picked themselves up, shook off their nerves, and gave it all they had. (She even had a great score before she fell and hurt herself with 5.11a, 5.10d, and V4.)

Gracie Guest '19 led the pack, earning second place overall (her second WAICL Championship on the medal stand) with 52 points. She climbed 5.11b, 5.10d, V6, V6 and beat the third place girl by 9 points. Barrett Carney '19 had her best climbing day ever when it mattered, placing 7th overall with 41 points on 5.11b, 5.11a and dual V4's. Juliet Faris '19 was up next with 38 points. She topped two 5.11a routes and one V4, before finishing a V3 just in time to score her fourth route. Arden Faires '19 and Jane Owen '19 tied with 37 points. They each climbed 5.11a, 5.10d, V3, V4.

As the dust settled, and the anticipation rose, the girls were hopeful but nervous. In the end, their hard work paid off and they earned first place and the right to call themselves the 2018-2019 WAICL Champions!

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