High Point Climbing hosts annual Southern Grit competition
Published 3:08 pm Monday, January 14, 2019
Top climbers from across the country competed for prize money at the Southern Grit Bouldering Series on Jan. 11-12 at High Point Climbing and Fitness. (REPORTER PHOTOS/KEITH MCCOY)
1st place Michaela Kierci, 2nd place Solveig Vorherr, 3rd place Piper Kelly
1st place Zander Waller, 2nd place Ben Hanna, 3rd place Nicholas Milburn
Professional rock climber Michaela Klersch signs autographs for fans.
Professional rock climber Michaela Klersch signs autographs for fans.
NORTH SHELBY – The Southern Grit competition once again drew the top climbers from across the country to Shelby County, and this year also featured the most competitors ever in the event’s Citizens division.
Seventy-two people participated in the Citizens competition, which was open to climbers of all ages and ability levels, said Lauren DeSeno, marketing and sales coordinator for High Point Climbing and Fitness Birmingham, which hosted the event Jan. 11-12.
“It’s a broad range of people who are able to compete in that,” DeSeno said and added that climbers ranged in age from 10-50 and came from as far away as Arkansas and Louisiana.
The number of climbers in the Citizens division made it the largest turnout in the event’s three-year history, DeSeno said.
In the Open competition, meanwhile, elite climbers competed for a total of $10,000 in prize money.
Female finishers, in order, were Michaela Kiersch, Solveig Korherr, Piper Kelly, Liz Arce, Sarah Williams, Preston Tam, Allaire Doussan and Hayden Kent.
Male finishers were Zander Waller, Ben Hanna, Nicholas Millburn, Zach Galla, Luke Muehring, Dom Speransa and Danny Aleksovski.
Though Southern Grit this year was not part of USA Climbing’s National Cup Series, High Point unveiled the Southern Grit Bouldering Series with Rounds 1 and 2 held at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, location.
Round 3 of qualifying was held Jan. 11 at High Point Birmingham.
The Citizens competition began the morning of Jan. 12.
Participation cost $35 in advance or $45 the week of the event, and climbers were given a T-shirt and a spot among the spectators for the Open finals.
After the Citizens competition and before the Open finals began, renowned climber Michaela Kiersch signed autographs before fans—and later went on to the claim the women’s title.
Citizens competition winners included:
- Women’s recreational: Shandi Pike, Jessica Hasted and Lindley Lawrence.
- Women’s intermediate: Chloe Dente, Erin Flettrich and Lindsey Isaacson.
- Men’s recreational: Matt Gamble, Larkin McCroskey and Scott McEwen.
- Men’s intermediate: Nathan Devan, Hudson Jacobus and Chase Davis.
- Men’s advanced: Jason Williams, Brandon McChristian and Khanh Trinh.
View and purchase photos at ShelbyCountyPhotos.com.
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