Nate Wilberding ’25 is a natural.
There’s a photo from the senior’s first winter of climbing (2023-24). He is hanging off a rock face, smiling as though there is nothing he would rather be doing.
A year later, Nate has qualified for this summer’s USA Climbing National Bouldering Championship in Portland. His performance over the weekend at a divisional qualifier in Greenville, S.C., means Nate is the sixth-ranked boulderer in the entire Southeast region in his age division and one of only 54 national qualifiers.
The national championship is in June. If Nate does well, it could open the door to potentially the U.S. Olympic Team Trials or world championship competitions.
Oh, and lacrosse season officially began Monday. Nate led last year’s team in scoring (41 goals), including six goals in a state quarterfinal playoff game against Rabun Gap (Ga.). His career high in a game is seven goals, the third-highest total in the program’s history.
Nate is from Tryon, N.C., and a Proctor in Cuningham House.
Christopher Burns ‘29 and Henry Gibbs ‘26 also competed for the Christ School Outdoor Program last weekend. The climbers are coached by Jack Lynch, and along with access to many local mountains, take advantage of the indoor climbing gym that is on campus.