Climbing high: CRMS excels at State Championships

Special to The Sopris Sun

On Saturday, Feb. 25, in a packed gym in Broomfield, the Colorado State High School Climbing Championships saw impressive performances from climbers representing more than 30 high schools. The 50-foot walls of G1 Climbing and Fitness hosted the 15th year of the league finals. This wrapped up a season that opened in early November and included nearly 500 students from across Colorado. Over 200 climbers from four regions, Denver Northwest, Denver Southeast, Western Slope and Southern Colorado, qualified for both JV and Varsity competitions. After an intense day of climbing that included remarkable ascents and heartbreaking falls on ropes and boulders, the results were in. Courtesy photos.

Colorado Rocky Mountain School dominated the team competition, placing first in the Varsity Boys, JV Boys and JV Girls. The Varsity Girls' team placed fourth. Stellar performances by individuals included Tuco Williams ’26 in first and Ethan Flynn ‘26 in third in the boys’ JV competition. They were supported by Chapin Turner ‘26 (ninth), Ryder Davies ‘26 (18th) and EJ Becker ‘24 (27th).

Kai Young ‘23 earned second and Tiffany Zhang third in the girls’ JV competition. They were supported by Soleil Scott ‘26 (eighth), Maya Menconi ‘23 (15th), Marlee Brinson ‘24 (32nd) and Kylie Baker ‘25 (33rd).

The Varsity Boys team was comprised of student-athletes Devin Bush ‘25 (fourth), Fritz Simmons ‘26 (10th), Makai Yllanes ‘23 (26th), Max Seitel-Hayes ‘24 (33rd), Dylan Baker ‘25 (36th) and Reid Goldstein ‘23 (57th).

The Varsity Girls’ team included Hazel Lazar ‘26 (15th), Lily Jones ‘23 (28th), Scarlett Kerr ‘24 (30th), Lila Russell ‘25 (33rd), Makaya Mackie ‘23 (46th) and Ellis Hutchens ‘25 (57th).

As high school climbing grows as a sport, it is always great to see the competition carried out in a spirit of camaraderie and support.

Aspen Chapel

continued from page 10 and communicating with artists. Bonds said that the gallery exemplifies the concept “of building community and giving back to the community.”

Sopris Sun. “I started doing some research and looking into it to see if I was feeling alone in that and came to find out it is a very common phenomenon.”

As she was researching the topic one day, a song came on the radio that completely “juxtaposed” the heavy topic. It was at that moment that everything clicked for the film’s production, she said.

For more information on upcoming events, or to buy tickets to the upcoming performance, www.danceaspen.org/events

Bonds and Ward also seek sponsorship for each show, and the gallery is regularly awarded a grant from The Aspen Thrift Shop, which is applied toward a weekly KAJX spot announcing the current show. TKC Foundation is also instrumental in supporting the work of the local artists. The gallery functions under the umbrella of The Aspen Chapel but is independently run and pays rent for its space. Ward said, “We couldn’t rent a space downtown. That would be impossible.”

The upcoming show, titled “Les Femmes,” is a mixed medium exhibit of all female artists in partnership with Planned Parenthood of Glenwood Springs. When asked about the current religious and political controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood, Ward told The Sun, “We can’t shy away from supporting things that support people.” The Aspen Chapel and its gallery are fulfilling the mission to build community through spirituality, the arts and inclusivity.

The Aspen Chapel Gallery’s shows are open to any artist living in the Roaring Fork Valley. For more information, to participate in a show or support the gallery, visit www. aspenchapelgallery.com