USA Climbing is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Collegiate Scholarships, recognizing outstanding student climbers who are helping to shape the future of the sport. The scholarships, which include the Climbing Ambassador Scholarship and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship, celebrate athletes who not only excel in competition but also lead in fostering community and inclusivity within climbing. Climbing Ambassador Scholarship Winners 1st Place ($1,000): Lleyton Gunter “Thank you to everyone who supported me in achieving this incredible honor,” said Gunter. “Without the dedication of the Northwestern Rock Climbing Club Executive Board and our amazing collegiate climbing community, I would never have been able to contribute so meaningfully to day-to-day operations and pursue the opportunities that make our club thrive. Leading this emerging club has been an incredibly rewarding experience, pushing me to step up as a leader and teaching me the value of collaboration and support. Through climbing, I’ve discovered a passion for fostering spaces where people can embrace freedom, find joy, and build friendships. In the future, I’m committed to expanding access to climbing and ensuring it becomes a more inclusive, supportive environment for all students at Northwestern and beyond. Thank you for believing in me and our shared mission to strengthen the climbing community.” 2nd Place ($500): Zoe Simard “Climbing has been a huge part of my college journey,” said Simard. “I officially started my climbing journey freshman year, and the very first time I walked into the gym and met the USC climbing team, I knew I had found something special. Through now being one of the captains of the team, I have also loved to introduce this sport to people and see them find their own place within it. Over the past three years, my community has grown beyond USC through the collegiate competition circuit. Winning the Climbing Ambassador Scholarship means the world to me, when I got the news, I was literally jumping up and down in my room!” These athletes were recognized for their exceptional leadership, advocacy, and dedication to promoting climbing within their collegiate and local communities. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship Winners 1st Place ($1,000): Angilee Cheah “I am so excited to be receiving this award,” said Cheah. “The collegiate circuit has allowed me to continue my love for competing and I look forward to the upcoming years. Thank you to all the friends and family who have helped in the past year.” 2nd Place ($500): Van Malkie “I’m truly honored to receive this DEI scholarship,” said Malkie. “Climbing has brought me lifelong friends, strength, and a sense of belonging. I believe everyone deserves access to that same experience. As a minority student-athlete, I’m committed to making climbing more inclusive—especially for underrepresented groups in terms of race, gender, and disability. I look forward to continuing this work at the University of Utah and helping build a climbing community where all students feel welcome and supported.” Applications for the scholarships opened on October 12, 2024, and closed on February 2, 2025. USA Climbing extends congratulations to this year’s winners and gratitude to all who applied. Learn more about the USA Climbing Collegiate Series here.
Over 300 competitors from 101 colleges across the country travelled to Utah this past weekend for the 2025 Collegiate National Championships. The Boulder discipline was hosted at USA Climbing’s current Training Center in the Granary District of Salt Lake City, while the Lead discipline was hosted at the new site of the Training Center in the Rio Grande District (this summer, USA Climbing was moving its Training Center closer to the site of its eventual National Training Center project). The Speed discipline was hosted at Momentum Fort Union, Momentum’s newest location in Salt Lake City. Helen Stephens competes in Women’s Lead (Advanced) Finals. Three-Way Tie for First During Women’s Lead (Advanced) Final Broken By Time Helen Stephens from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Marielle Horstmann from the University of Vermont, and Julia Duffy from the University of Utah all topped their Qualification route. During Finals, all three athletes fell at the exact same move. To avoid a three-way tie, first place was given to the athlete who took the least amount of time to reach the finish. Horstmann prevailed with a time of 2 minutes and 52 seconds. Stephens followed closely behind in second with 3 minutes and 14 seconds, and Duffy finishing in third with 3 minutes and 51 seconds. Women’s Lead (Advanced) Podium: Marielle Horstmann | University of Vermont Helen Stephens | Georgia Institute of Technology Julia Duffy | University of Utah “I’ve never competed on a wall like that outside so it felt pretty surreal! I was just happy to be there and glad it wasn’t pouring rain,” Horstmann said when asked about her experience. Men’s Lead (Advanced) Podium: Nathan Monte | University of Utah Austin Reitz | University of Colorado Boulder Jake Plasco | University of Tennessee Chattanooga Men’s Top Rope (Intermediate) Podium: Marcus Yoo | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Mateo Fernandez-Tyson | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Y-Minh Truong | Northern Arizona University Women’s Top Rope (Intermediate) Podium: Lillyan Higgs | University of Utah Laura Chen | University of California San Francisco Jaime Santoro | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Smolyanyy Wins First Collegiate National Championship Anton Smolyanyy from the University of Utah not only achieved a competition personal record time of 5.82 seconds, but also earned his first podium finish, making him the 2025 Men’s Speed Collegiate National Champion. With his sights set on team trials, Smolyanyy said, “I really wanted this moment to happen, but actually executing it and making it real feels amazing.” Anton Smolyanyy and Evan Gerrie compete in Men’s Speed Finals. Men’s Speed Podium: Anton Smolyanyy | University of Utah Micah Feller | University of California Los Angeles Matthew Baker | Community College of Baltimore County Guay Wins First Collegiate National Championship Kaitlyn Guay from Northeastern University achieved a competition personal record time of 8.67 seconds, but also earned her first time becoming the 2025 Female Speed Collegiate National Champion. “I’m just really happy,” Guay said when asked where she’ll go from here. “I’ve been training for the open circuit so just the same as always– just training.” Women’s Speed Podium: Kaitlyn Guay | Northeastern University Angilee Cheah | University of Utah Julia de la Paz | University of Utah Flynn and Sarinopoulos Secure Gold for University of Utah AJ Flynn (MADV) and Campbell Sarinopoulos (WADV) of University of Utah both championed in their categories for the first time. Sarinopoulos, having also competed in the 2023 Collegiate Nationals Boulder Finals, flashed all 4 routes. Flynn flashed all but 1 of his routes despite this being his first time competing in the Collegiate Nationals circuit. Campbell Sarinopoulos competes in Women’s Boulder (Advanced) Finals Men’s Boulder (Advanced) Podium: AJ Flynn | University of Utah Nathan Monte | University of Utah Austin Reitz | University of Colorado Boulder Women’s Boulder (Advanced) Podium: Campbell Sarinopoulos | University of Utah Sonia Gutierrez | Colorado College Claire Lin | University of California Berkeley Men’s Boulder (Intermediate) Podium: Mateo Fernandez-Tyson | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Marcus Yoo | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Bruno Garcia | University of Michigan Women’s Boulder (Intermediate) Podium: Ellis Stevens | Bryn Mawr College Laura Chen | University of California San Francisco Paloma Laumann | Liberty University How To Watch You can rewatch the final rounds of the 2025 Collegiate National Championships at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. Full results are also available on the Collegiate Nationals event page. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.