He was ranked fifth in the region going into the competition, and as a result of his most recent placement, is invited to compete in the 2005 US Junior National Bouldering Championships in Thornton, Colorado, on February 19 and 20. 

The Philadelphia Rock Gym in Oaks defines on its website all forms of rock climbing as “a unique alternative to more traditional forms of exercise. It's an exciting and adventurous total body workout that combines grace, precision, and skill. Climbing develops a unique combination of balance, strength, and flexibility, providing a complete experience for the body as well as the mind.” Bouldering, is done at lower levels than climbing and without any ropes, and uses a pad similar to a gymnastics pad for safety and protection. Philadelphia Rock Gym President, David Rowland, describes it as “highly technical and utilizes endurance, gymnastic strength, and power, requiring an individual to distill these skills into highest degree of difficulty movements in short sequences over an 8–15 foot route on a wall roughly 12 to 14 feet high in a limited number of moves.”

Posted January 23, 2005