Vertical world

Vertical World, established 1987, was the first indoor rock climbing gym in North America. It is a string of rock climbing gyms spread throughout the Greater Seattle area. There are four gyms, located in Seattle, Redmond, Bremerton and Everett, Washington, United States. [http://verticalworld.com/ [1]

Team

The Vertical World Climbing Team, also established in 1987, consists of between 40 and 50 youth climbers. Its colors are Red and White, although black and white has been used. Its key symbol/logo is a white dog tag with words reading from top to bottom: Vertical World Climbing Team est. 1987. As of February 17, 2008, is ranked 1st in the United States, for bouldering (unroped climbing on short walls) in a tie with Team Texas, a climbing team from Exposure Climbing Gym in Dallas, Texas, USA, and as of July 9, 2007, 2nd in the country for sport climbing (roped climbing on very tall walls), behind Team Texas. [http://teamverticalworld.com/ [2] [http://www.teamtexas.us/home.html [3]

Team Championship History

Team Vertical World has participated in many National Championships across the U.S. the last few years, placing first twice, and also second on two occasions.

2005 Team National Championship - 2nd Place - SCS (Sport Climbing Series [http://www.usaclimbing.net/scs/home.cfm [4] )
2006 Team National Championship - 1st Place - SCS
2007 Team National Championship - 2nd Place - SCS
2008 Team National Championship - 1st Place - ABS (American Bouldering Series [http://www.usaclimbing.net/abs/home.cfm [5] )
2008 Team PNW (Pacific North West [http://www.usaclimbing.net/regional/regional_news.cfm?region=pnw [6] ) Regional Championship - 1st Place - SCS
2008 Team National Championship - 5th Place - SCS


Vertical World has also been privileged to have members of their team go to the IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships. Members including:

Rebekah "Beka" Byington
7th Place Speed - Austria 06
Mikaila "Micky" Leonardi:
43rd Place Speed - Bulgaria 03; 34th Place Sport - Austria 06
Sydney "Syd" McNair:
13th Place Sport, 5th Place Speed - Scotland 04; 18th Place Sport, 10th Place Speed - China 05
Carl "Carlito" Husmann:
26th Place Speed - Austria 06
Meg "Megasaurus" Coyne:
12th Place Sport - Ecuador 07; 30th Place Sport - Australia 08
Melissa Main:
3rd Place Sport - Ecuador 07
Bryan "B-Hops" Hopkins:
20th Place Sport - Ecuador 07
Ellen "Squanto" French: 21st Place Speed - Bulgaria 03
Bryan "Boyko" Boyko:
13th Place Speed - Austria 06
Audrey Hsu:
27th Place Sport - Australia 08
Kayla Erickson"
26th Place Speed - Australia 08


North American Continental Championships is a competition that takes place every two years (even years) in which The United States, Canada and Mexico compete for the title of "North American Continental Champion," a posistion that gives you a free buy to Youth World Championships. Here is a list of Vertical World Climbing Team members who have competed at NACC and their placements:
Bryan "B-Hops" Hopkins:
13th Place Male A Sport, 4th Place Male A Speed - Denver 06
Sydney "Syd" Mcnair:
2nd Place Female Adult Sport - Denver 06; 1st Place Female Junior Sport, 1st Place Female Junior Bouldering - Mexico City 04
Victoria "V" Cartwright:
11th Place Female B Sport - Denver 06
Rebekah "Beka" Byington:
1st Place Female A Speed
Melissa Main:
4th Place Female B Sport - Mexico City 04
Mikaila "Micky" Leonardy:
4th Place Female A Bouldering - Mexico City 04


Vertical World Climbing Team is very honored to have team members climb at that level with many other climbers from across the world. The coach, Tyson Schoene has been the coach for several years now, and is still looking forward to his future star athletes making it to the World Championships.

Coaching

Tyson Schoene, the current head coach of the Vertical World Climbing Team has also been climbing since his younger years. Although he is beginning to develop what he calls "OLDMANITIS," Tyson still continues to "send" hard problems, whether he be getting his "train" on with his team, or heading outside to climb with fellow friend, Jake. Tyson has gone to Climbing Youth World Championships on multiple occasions because of his star athletes, and has enjoyed every minute of it. And even though he can get very frustrated with a few, if not all, of his team members, he loves watching them grow stronger. The Vertical World Climbing Team loves Tyson and thanks him very much for his devotion to making them stronger climbers and pushing them to the best of their abilities.

Assistant Coaches include:
Vertical World Redmond - Adam (Last Name Unknown)
Vertical World Seattle - Sydney McNair
Vertical World Everett - Sydney McNair
Vertical World Bremerton - Joe Holmes


All of the assistant coaches of the Vertical World Climbing Team are equally devoted as head coach, Tyson, pushing their kids to their total potential and making them as great as they can be.

2008 SCS Season

As the 2008 SCS climbing season is coming to a close, Vertical World Climbing Team overall for the season, placed 5th at the SCS National Championship; closing in behind two Heartland Region Teams: Team Texas in First, and Team Canyons in Second. Although competitors do not officially get the title as "U.S. Team Member" unless they accept your invite to Australia (this only complies to the Categories: Youth B, Youth A, and Junior), three Vertical World Team members were invited to the competition.

Congratulations to:
Audrey Hsu - 3rd Place Female Youth B Sport
Kayla Erickson - 5th Place Female Junior Speed
Alex Fritz - 5th Place Male Youth B Speed
Meg Coyne - 5th Place Female Junior Sport

Great job to all the climbers this season, Vertical World or not. You all have put in a great contribution to the SCS and ABS Climbing Community. Everyone hopefully enjoyed their season and we hope to all see you back next season. Congratulations to everyone else who is aging out this season, as well.

Thank you!