Team Durango, comprised of youths 8 to 17, formed over two years ago. It has quickly grown from just a few participants to 20.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - "I really pay attention to how the kids are," said Marcus Garcia, center, who coaches Team Durango. Garcia said it's important to know when his climbers need a rest in order to avoid injury. At left is Mountain Middle School seventh-grader Soma Smith, daughter of Dan and Shannon Smith, and at right is Durango High School sophomore Natalie Cohn, daughter of Thomas Cohn.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Maddie Sturm, an eighth-grader at Mountain Middle School, trains with Team Durango recently at the Rock Lounge. Maddie is the daughter of Carl and Katie Sturm.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Team Durango has almost two dozen members who are all middle school and high school students. The team trains twice a week at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Skylar Smith, a freshman at Animas High School, trains with Team Durango recently at the Rock Lounge. Skylar is the son of Dan and Shannon Smith.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Natalie Cohn, a sophomore at Durango High School and daughter of Thomas Cohn, belays a teammate during a recent training session at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Durango High School freshman Gavin Andrew, son of Grant and Jenny Andrew, recovers from a bouldering exercise while training with Team Durango recently at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Mountain Middle School sixth-grader Georgia Witchel, daughter of John Witchel and Jessica Wheeler, gets ready to climb recently at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Marcus Garcia coaches one of his climbers recently at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Team Durango head coach Marcus Garcia, left, and assistant coach Mike Sibalski, right, help out Durango High School freshman Sam Dippold during a recent workout at the Rock Lounge. Sam is the son of Chris and Betty Dippold.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Escalante Middle School seventh-grader John White, son of Jim and Leigh White, performs strength exercises during a recent workout with Team Durango at the Rock Lounge. In back is The Liberty School eighth-grader Liam Foster, son of Pete and Nancy Foster.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - From left: Mountain Middle School eighth-grader Maddie Sturm, seventh-grader Sierra DesPlanques, Durango High School junior Kai Meyer, head coach Marcus Garcia, and assistant coach Mike Sibalski warm up before a recent workout at the Rock Lounge. Maddie is the daughter of Carl and Katie Sturm, Sierra is the daughter of Kevin DesPlanques and Dana Shinn, Kai is the son of James Meyer and Peg Powell.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - A member of Team Durango laces up her climbing shoes after a lengthy warm up recently at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Miller Middle School seventh-grader Sam Choate, left, and The Liberty School eighth-grader Liam Foster warm up before a workout with Team Durango recently at the Rock Lounge. Sam is the son of Chris and Jill Choate, and Liam is the son of Pete and Nancy Foster.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Assistant coach Brian Clark, left, gives Miller Middle School seventh-grader Sam Choate, center, and Durango High School junior Kai Meyer stretching tips during a recent workout at the Rock Lounge. Sam is the son of Chris and Jill Choate, and Kai is the son of James Meyer and Peg Powell.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - A member of Team Durango stretches between workouts recently at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Team Durango warms up before a recent workout at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - One of Marcus Garcia's climbers tapes up a finger with some loose skin during a recent training session at the Rock Lounge.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Sierra DesPlanques, daughter of Kevin DesPlanques and Dana Shinn, climbs with Team Durango during a recent workout at the Rock Lounge. In back is Miller Middle School seventh-grader Sam Choate, son of Chris and Jill Choate.
