Watershed’s inaugural climbing team made an impressive debut this past weekend, securing third place overall at the American Scholastic Climbing League (ASCL) competition held at Movement Gyms in RiNo. This exciting achievement marks a major milestone for the school’s new climbing program, which has quickly captured the enthusiasm of students and staff alike.
The Watershed Climbing Team was the brainchild of two students, Harrison '25 and Leo '26, who approached educator and experienced climbing coach (and climber himself) Ethan Burns with the idea. Ethan, already familiar with the Colorado high school climbing league network, saw an opportunity to turn their vision into reality.
Ethan reflected that the climbing team represented “the right competition for this type of school, where kids are working together to complete problems and supporting each other.”
After some careful planning and recruiting, the team was officially formed. In addition to Harrison and Leo, the team quickly grew to include climbers Cael ‘27, Henry ‘25, Eli ‘27, and Gabe ‘25. Ethan took on the role of coach, guiding the team through the logistics of competition, as well as the physical and mental challenges of climbing.
Considered a winter sport, the team practices weekly at Boulder Spot, a local indoor climbing gym. These team practices are supplemented by independent climbing sessions, where members are encouraged to climb 1-2 times a week on their own to sharpen their skills.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the climbing competitions is its supportive and inclusive competition environment. “It’s a super relaxed atmosphere,” said Ethan. “Kids from other teams are cheering each other on. It’s not about beating someone else — it’s about completing a challenging problem together. There’s a real sense of shared community.”
At the December 14th competition, Watershed faced off against seven other schools. The scoring system is designed to highlight individual performance while fostering team collaboration: each team’s overall score is determined by the top three individual team member scores. The climbing routes themselves vary in difficulty, allowing students of all skill levels to participate and challenge themselves.
Watershed’s team performance was bolstered by standout individual achievements. Harrison placed fifth overall out of around 50 participants. Eli came close to making the top 15, while Cael and Eli completed two challenging climbs at the end of the competition, pushing the Watershed team score to secure their podium finish. These climbers’ hard work and determination not only earned them individual accolades but also propelled the team to a strong third place finish.
The team’s next competition will take place on January 18th at the G1 Climbing Competition in Broomfield, followed by another at the Longmont Climbing Collective the following week. On February 1st, Watershed will participate in the Whetstone Climbing Competition in Fort Collins. The regional championships will be held in Louisville on February 15th, and the team is hopeful that they will qualify a few climbers for the state championship in Colorado Springs on February 22nd.
The future of the team looks bright, even as the team will lose several seniors after this season. Harrison ‘25 reflected, "Creating the first climbing team is really exciting for us and for the school! Although I am graduating this year, I have high hopes that this program will grow and expand to create a powerful team for Watershed students to root for, and to serve as a viable starting point for future sporting endeavors." Coach Ethan is optimistic about the continued growth of the program: “I hope next year we can practice even more frequently and have more students join the team.”
Stay tuned for more updates on Watershed’s climbers as they circuit these local competitions!
