For the third time since 2018, The Heights climbing team won the championship of the Washington Area Interscholastic Climbing League (WAICL). Earlier in the season Coaches Eric Heil and Finn Mehigan commented on the depth of the team as a key strength, and this strength was displayed in their final performance of the season with five climbers on the varsity team earning over 50 points, more than any other team in the league. At the championship comp, The Heights team scored 298, narrowly surpassing Episcopal High School’s 282. Seniors John Paul Moynihan (Heights) and Max Yang (Episcopal) tied for first with 75 points each. Yang, originally from Shanghai, was previously the Chinese national champion for combined lead and boulder climbing events. 

Throughout the season Heights students climbed well, claiming victory at all six of their competitions. Having gone through The Heights Valley, where climbing trees is a daily activity for third, fourth and fifth grade boys who choose to do so, Moynihan set school records this season by climbing a 13 on ropes and v10 in bouldering. Despite these many achievements, Coach Heil was most proud of the comradery of the team, their sportsmanship, and willingness to help other climbers grow: “The guys have done a great job working together to overcome obstacles in climbs during practice, and I received multiple compliments from other coaches for their spirit and sportsmanship.”