Students Compete in Rock Climbing National Championships

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Harrison High School senior Matt Cysner, freshman Matt Rube and 5th grader Charlie Rube competed at the American Bouldering Series 2012 Youth National Championships.

Matt Rube placed 7th in the country in the 14 and under category. Cysner placed 17th in the 18 and under category and the younger Rube climbed to a 28th place finish in the 11 and under category.

Bouldering, a form of lower-height rock climbing emphasizing difficulty rather than speed, involves no ropes and requires strength, endurance, technique and balance.

The event features the top male and female youth climbers from across the country. The Harrison boys qualified for the national event through stages of regional competition where each placed in the top 4 in his age group.

While bouldering or rock climbing are currently not NYSPHSAA varsity level sports, they are being incorporated into physical education classes as part of the curriculum to promote healthier lifestyles.

“We’ve reexamined PE classes to stress team building and cooperation,” said Patricia Seligman, Directorof Physical Education, Health and Athletics. “We still have traditional team sports but we are also focusing on activities that students can use in the real world for fun and fitness for the rest of theirlives.”

Although rock climbing is not yet an NCAA sport, many colleges have climbing teams that compete against other schools in the USA Climbing sanctioned Collegiate Climbing Series. It is also not a coincidence that the American Bouldering Championships were held in Colorado Springs, the home city of the US Olympic Committee. Rock climbing is on a “short list” of sports to be added to the Olympic Games in 2020.

This spring the boys will compete in sport climbing, an event involving ropes and 60 foot climbing walls. Cysner, who will graduate Magna Cum Laude from Harrison High School in June, hopes to continue climbing in college.