Jaylen Carr – Sports Editor
Inside a building with a teal sign that reads City Climb Gym, there are colorful rock-climbing walls, encouraging words from experienced members to newcomers, and smell sweat from the hardworking participants.
Hayden Rovelli, president of the Southern Connecticut Climbing Club, said the club had been around since 2012, took a hiatus in 2015, and was revitalized during the pandemic.
“This year has been the first year that we’re getting new people coming every week,” said Rovelli.
Rock climbing has benefits, according to Climber News. One advantage of rock climbing is it has a positive impact on participants mental health, and it can provide a social outlet for people to meet other climbers.
Vice President Josephine Nolet added, “It’s such a social sport, and you’re physically actively doing things, and you’re solving problems.”
Math major Bryce Drynan, a senior, said he started getting into climbing during the pandemic.
“It felt like a good way to get involved,” Drynan said.
Sports and movement science major Timothy Arvin, a freshman, and business and marketing major Nicholas Dicicco, said they both wanted to join a club together that wasn’t academic, but instead sporty and active.
“I went to the club fair, and the rock-climbing club genuinely had a happy personality,” said Arvin. “I enjoy doing athletic things, and it’s a good way to meet new people.”
Dicicco said that he and Arvin went to the same high school and vowed to get more involved in college. Rock climbing is a demanding sport, said Dicicco.
“You have to focus, and you have to be on point on what you do and how you climb,” said Dicicco.
Rovelli said, especially this year, he has been trying to make it less intimidating and approachable for newcomers.
The club meets once a week on Saturdays at 8 p.m. inside Climb City Gym. Still, an aspiration for next semester is to introduce a community service aspect to the club that involves climbing, like a trash pick-up event at a local climbing gym, said Rovelli.
The club is open to all, and students can sign up through Owl Connect or by attending the events, said Rovelli.
“You don’t need to have any experience and the first time is on us,” said Rovelli.
Nolet said what sets the club apart from any other club on campus is its unique qualities: It pushes you physically and allows you to socialize with other climbers simultaneously.
Rovelli said, “If you think it looks cool, and you want to come one time to try it out you totally can.”
