/ Vertica youth team · est. 2019

Kids who send. Adults who coach.

USA Climbing affiliate team. Three age groups. Four coaches. Nine local + regional comps a season, one national qualifier, and one outdoor weekend. We train to climb hard and we travel with parents who climb hard with their kids.

/ Roster34
/ Coaches04
/ Comps / yr09
/ Years06
/ Three training groups

Three groups, one system.

Roster splits by USA Climbing age category. Train two to four times per week depending on group; comps are scaled by age. Tryout invites move kids in by skill, not just calendar age. Coaches sign off on every promotion.
/ Group 01 · entry U11 · CUBS

Cubs (ages 7–10)

Two practices a week, ninety minutes each. Movement games, rope basics, falling, and one-problem projecting. Most cubs comp twice a season — local comps only.

Practice
Tu + Th · 4P
Comps
2/season
Cost
$165 / mo
/ Group 02 · core U13 / U15 · MIDDLE

Middle (ages 11–14)

Three practices a week, two hours each. Structured strength (campus, hangboard intro), movement lab, and project days. Comps regional + local; some travel.

Practice
M / W / F · 4:30P
Comps
5/season
Cost
$220 / mo
/ Group 03 · high-perf U17 / U19 · ELITE

Elite (ages 15–18)

Four practices a week, two-and-a-half hours. Periodized training plan, hangboard, lead sport-climbing block. National qualifier in the spring; one nominated for outdoor projecting weekend.

Practice
M–Th · 5P
Comps
9/season
Cost
$275 / mo
/ Group 04 · prep PRE-TEAM

Pre-team (ages 9–12)

One practice a week, by invitation from the kids program coaches. A bridge into Cubs / Middle. Skills-only — no comps. Move up to a competing group when you and your coach agree.

Practice
Sat · 1P
Comps
none
Cost
$90 / mo
/ The coaching staff

The four who show up.

Every coach holds USA Climbing Level 2 instructor certification or higher. Two are former national-team competitors. All four are full-time on the Vertica payroll — no rotating contractors. They know the kids, and they know the families.
/ Head coach

Imani Khoury

Twelve years coaching, six at Vertica. Bouldering specialist. Routesetting Level 2. Built the Middle and Elite groups from scratch. Climbs V11 outdoors on a good week.

Cert USAC Level 3 · Routesetter L2Outdoor V11 · 5.13bCoaches Middle, Elite
/ Lead coach

Renée Mbeki

Sport-climbing specialist. Former US national team alternate. Runs the lead block for Elite. Has the patience for first-year leaders and the eye for sport projects.

Cert USAC Level 2 · AMGA SPIOutdoor V8 · 5.14aCoaches Elite, lead clinics
/ Cubs coach

Daniela Acosta

Eight years coaching kids ages 6–11. Pediatric movement background. Designs the games-and-skills curriculum for Cubs and Pre-team. Most kindergarteners' favorite person.

Cert USAC Level 2 · ACSM CPTOutdoor V5 · 5.11dCoaches Cubs, Pre-team
/ Comp travel · 2026 season

Where the team is going.

Nine comps across the season: five locals at partner gyms within a two-hour drive, three regional in our division, one national qualifier in Salt Lake. Parents travel with the team; we book group lodging at every away comp. Costs included in monthly dues, except SLC qualifier.

SLC trip is opt-in for invited Elite climbers, $475 to cover flights and shared lodging. Scholarship available — ask Coach Khoury.

12Sep · Sat

Local · Crag Co. invitational

Cubs + Middle. Bouldering only. Crag Co., 18 miles east. Bus from gym at 7A.

CRAG CO.Whitestone, NC
10Oct · Sat

Local · Vertica home comp

All groups. Open + youth divisions. Hosted at Vertica; volunteers needed for setting and judging.

HOMEBay 12, West Industrial
07Nov · Sat

Regional · Tri-state divisional

Middle + Elite. Hosted at Granite Hold, Charlotte. Two-night stay, group lodging.

GRANITE HOLDCharlotte, NC · 4 hr drive
14Dec · Sun

Local · Holiday round-up

Cubs + Pre-team. Single-day comp at Bear Stone, Asheville. Volunteer parents needed for scoring.

BEAR STONEAsheville, NC
23Feb · Sat

Regional · Southeast youth open

All groups. Atlanta. Group bus + lodging; 5A departure Friday for Saturday qualifier.

ATLANTA OPENAtlanta, GA · 6 hr drive
12Apr · Sat

National · USAC qualifier

Elite (invited). Salt Lake City. Three days, hosted by USA Climbing. $475 athlete fee, scholarship available.

USAC NATIONALSalt Lake City, UT
/ Try out · season opens

Apply for a tryout.

Tryouts are held in late August for the 2026–27 season and again in mid-January for spring intake. Climbers come for two ninety-minute evaluations; we look at movement, attitude, and consistency — not your top grade.

Pre-team invites can come from the Saturday kids program directly; ask Coach Acosta. We respond to every application within seven days.

  • Application opens 1 August + 1 January
  • Two evaluation sessions, 90 min each
  • Decisions emailed within 7 days
  • Scholarship: 4 spots / season, full or partial

/ Submitting opens a tryout slot · we'll email within 7 days with the next available evaluation date