Campus News

Westminster Student Awarded “Best Boulderer” Title at 4th Annual Intercollegiate Climbing Wall Competition

Students from six campuses throughout the state competed for bragging rights

SALT LAKE CITY – Competing against more than 50 college students from across the state, Westminster’s Griffin Whiteside (Men’s) took home bragging rights as the “top boulderer” at the 4th Annual Intercollegiate Climbing Wall Competition at Westminster College on November 15. For the first time in history, a Westminster student beat the University of Utah team to take home the first-place trophy. Weber State’s Tarris Lowe won first place in the women’s category.

Showcasing their agility, skill and strength, students from the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Brigham Young University, Westminster College and Salt Lake Community College competed on Westminster’s 46-foot climbing wall - the tallest of any Utah campus.

The competition included a 15-foot section of the wall scattered with various “problems,” and the style being judged is called “bouldering,” an un-roped ascent. During the qualifying round, competitors tried to accumulate the highest point total they could, with values based on difficulty and fewest falls, not speed. The highest scoring climbers proceeded to the finals where they navigated new problems. Collectively, the students scaled the wall more than 100 times, with no climb being identical.

“We had a great turnout for the competition again this year with over 50 student competitors,” said Liz Rogers, director of Westminster’s outdoor recreation program. “The energy of the climbers and spectators during the finals was very exciting. There was a particularly fun last move in the men's final problem called a ‘bat hang’ that got everyone fired up. All the competitors had a blast, and we were especially excited to have Westminster win the overall title.”

The top winners were awarded hangboards, Black Diamond backpacks, chalk bags and chalk, and gift certificates to International Mountain Equipment.

The final results of Westminster's 2011 Intercollegiate Climbing Wall competition are:

Best Overall School: Westminster College

Men:

1st place: Griffin Whiteside (Westminster)
2nd place: Joe Meiners (University of Utah)
3rd place: Dave Miller (University of Utah)
4th place: Patrick Hanna (Westminster)
5th place: Kevin Rafferty (Weber State)

Women:

1st place: Tarris Lowe (Weber State)
2nd place: Rachel Lowe (Weber State)
3rd place: Kasi Stults (Westminster)
4th place: Katie Thorup (University of Utah)
5th place: Melissa Gill (Westminster)

Media Contacts: Krista DeAngelis and Arikka Von (801) 832-2682
Nov. 16, 2011

About Westminster:
Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu or follow @WestminsterSLC or @WestminsterPR on Twitter.