Collegiate National Qualifying Event - CNQE

 

Well, there is much to learn about the Collegiate National Qualifying Event, or CNQEs, otherwise called Collegiate Divisionals. The event is nothing like youth divisionals in the strictest sense, but it is the penultimate event before Collegiate Nationals, so one can think of them as related.

But there are two very big differences: the first is that a collegiate climber, who has qualified by competing in a Qualifying Event (QE), can attend any CNQE in the country, but only ONCE. If the climber is not among the top 8 climbers, they will not advance to nationals.

The second difference is the real kicker: If a climber makes it into the top 8 in one category, then they make it into both in the Nationals event. So strategy comes into play here: If one makes the top 8 in the morning session, then they do not have to climb the afternoon session. In Brendan's case, Bouldering was in the morning and Lead was in the afternoon.

There are two ways to strategize here as a team. If a climber makes the top 8 and does not climb in the afternoon session, that leaves room for the team to have another climber try to make it in. The opposite of this strategy is that if the top 8 people climb in both categories, they essentially could take up 2 available spots for nationals by making it into the top 8 in both disciplines.

The next thing we noticed was that some climbers were coming from very far away because either their CNQE was full or they wanted to have a better chance of qualifying by coming to a less populated part of the country. It really pays to register early for the event you want because they tend to fill up quickly.

We continue to support Brendan on his journey and learn more about the world of competitive climbing. You heard it here first!

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Team Trials

 

I have to say that I am enjoying watching the USA Climbing team trials. Of course with the hopes that one day we will see Brendan there! So just watching to try to figure things out because, hey, you never know!

The only way to get invited to the Team Trials is by placing in the top 40 climbers in your category at the Yeti Climbing National Championship, otherwise known as Open Nationals. Team Trials are going on right now from March 12 - 16, 2025, so they tend to land predictably in March. 

How does it all work? Well, watching the lead competition, the men started out with 31 competitors and reduced it to the top 24 climbers for the Semis. Finals took the top 8. There are apparently points accumulated by climbers so the podium doesn't necessarily determine who makes the team. 

The manual in section 2 states that points are awarded from the National Championship PLUS the National Team Trial competition. The total number of points determines who makes the team. With Colin Duffy and Jesse Grupper already preselected for the lead team, that left three spots on the team for the top three ranked climbers. Sergay Lakno, Decland Osgood, and interestingly Cruz Padilla who came in 9th at the Trials but had more points than the 3rd place finisher, Dillon Countryman, because he came in 1st at the National Championship.

I can't say I understand the reasoning behind this system, but it does seem that it provides validity to the number and challenge level of the total amount of competitions that a climber competes in. The way to ensure you get on the team is that you must do well at BOTH events. That does make sense in that the team is looking for the most well-rounded and experienced climbers, but it is hard to understand when looking at the Team Trials itself without knowing this.

Well, we will see what happens tomorrow for Bouldering!

Update: Bouldering was amazing! And we have connections to two of the climbers who came from our Division, Vail Everett and Melina Constanza. Brendan grew up with Vail at many youth competitions and I have to say we all saw this coming watching his immense talent over the years. Congrats Vail! Melina is older than Brendan but comes from our Division as well. He met her at a training camp in Philadelphia where she gave him expert advice. Big thanks and congrats to Melina! She is amazing!  You both have done amazing things for the sport of climbing!

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Photo Credit: Orea Media

Surviving all THREE Circuits AT THE SAME TIME.

 

Now some of you climbing parents may not be dealing with this, but I wanted to make a post for those who might end up in this position like we are.

The last year of the youth series, at this time, coincides with the first year of college. And most serious climbers who are 16 have already started the Elite series. So, it is possible to be in all three circuits at once for a year.

MY ADVICE TO ALL: Do not buy anything that is non-refundable until USA Climbing puts out the last set of dates for the terminal championships. What I mean is wait to find out when the Collegiate Nationals is going to be. Around this time, the CNQE dates will also come out.

The problem right now is that some of the Elite NACS dates conflict with the Collegiate dates. Brendan almost needed to miss Collegiate nationals to stay in the Elite circuit until another CNQE opened up which made the whole jigsaw puzzle work.

To be safe, be sure to get travel insurance and make every reservation refundable or pay when you get there! Ugh!

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Heart and Soul 2025

Photo Credit: Andrew Hanson