Eagle climbers dominate the podium at American Scholastic Climbing League Regionals
Special to the Daily
Veronica Kuffel/Special to the Daily
In February, the American Scholastic Climbing League wrapped up their qualifying season with its 2026 Regionals, and athletes from Eagle Valley made an impressive appearance at the competition.
Local climbers Brynn Lindal, Waylon Larson and Nora Pyle earned podium wins on Saturday, Feb. 21, a critical boost as the three prepare for the remaining competitions in the season.
“ASCL Regionals is the beginning,” Lindal said. “The rest of the season is kind of where the important stuff is.”
As a junior, Lindal won her third Western Slope competition of the season with 8,317 points. Freshman Indie Wilcox followed close behind, leading Montrose to the high school girls team title.
In a few weeks, Lindal will follow other local climbers to the Front Range for USA Climbing Regionals for lead and top rope in Castle Rock and bouldering in Centennial.
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“It’ll be interesting to see how I place because not everyone is at the qualifying comps,” Lindal noted. “At regionals, everyone is there, so then you see how you are with everyone in your region.”
The USAC season has also proven successful for Lindal, as the young climber placed top four in five of her six qualifying competitions. Ella Regjo is another Eagle climber who’s made big strides this winter in USAC, notably after a hip injury last year.
Regjo was unable to compete earlier this season due to surgery, and while she was slated to return in early February, she made a complete recovery by December. Since then, the climber has placed top 10 in three USAC competitions and earned second place in the recent one hosted by Eagle Climbing.
“This season has been full of what-ifs and possibilities I didn’t know I’d be able to have,” Regjo said. “I’m super excited to see where this season takes me into regionals and divisions … my goals for the rest of this season is really just to make the most of it, try my best and enjoy the process.”
On the boys’ side, eighth grader Waylon Larson is looking forward to the remaining season with several accomplishments behind him. Larson won his third individual title at regionals for the ASCL season, with a close score ahead of Sleeping Giant’s Micah Setter. The climber has also held his own in USAC competitions, earning top 10 placing in two lead and top rope competitions.
“It’s definitely a little harder because I’m the youngest in my division,” Larson explained. “I also have to lead climb this year, so it’s a little different. It’s a little scarier than normal top rope.”
Seventh grader Nora Pyle took second in the middle school girls competition, rounding out Eagle Valley’s recent ASCL wins. Kaidence Steinman of Redlands Middle School claimed the junior title with 12,646 points. Sophomore Tobe Ponte of Grand Junction earned another individual title for the high school boys competition, and CRMS took the overall team title for regionals.
Overall, athletes from across the Western Slope climbed their hardest at this weekend’s competition, and many plan to participate in the most competitive meets of the season.
As they look to the future, local climbers like Lindal feel prepared by their coaches and community to climb their best and represent Eagle Valley.
“Eagle Climbing has done a good job recently of putting on all of these comps, and I feel the routes have been great,” Lindal said. “Not only for the comps, but also to practice on. I’m really grateful for that.”
