Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director

BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College Tornados Climbing team returns to competition for the first time since early November this Saturday as the Tornados head to Chattanooga, Tenn. for a USA Climbing Appalachian Local Qualifier at the Tennessee Bouldering Authority. Action will be divided into two sessions, with the first competition taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second running from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Tornados come off of two successful fall events including the program's inaugural home fall competition held on October 27, 2018, at the Brevard Rock Gym. Madison Altman, a freshman student-athlete from Newnan, Ga. competing in her first-ever collegiate event, finished in second place out of 15 climbers in the Female Bouldering competition with a total of 21,700 points BC's home event.

Altman and the Tornados built on this successful season opener in their next event, the Wake Forest Collegiate Climbing Competition in Winston-Salem, N.C. on November 10, 2018. Altman claimed first place in the event, finishing with a top score of 12,800 points in the competition that featured 16 climbers, including many from Duke University and host Wake Forest. In the men's competition, Dawson Jacobs, a local freshman from nearby Pisgah Forest, N.C., highlighted the men's side by placing second with 19,000 points.

After this weekend's competition, Head Coach Travis Gray and the 2018-19 Tornados Climbing team will prepare for a busy February slate. BC heads to Western Carolina University on Saturday, February 16 before its second home event of the season on Saturday, February 23 at the Brevard Rock Gym.

For all the latest news and information surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook.

-30-