A love for climbing
CCS students share in a couple’s experience
CCS teacher Cari Welsh and her husband, Rick, founded Concord Climbing Club two years ago — an effort the outdoor-loving couple first discovered at Paideia Academy, where Cari previously taught.
“Because [Paideia] was small, there were limited competitive athletics,” Cari explained of the origins of that club, which was founded by David Leach.
“We started participating as soon as it was offered when our oldest, Lilly, was in sixth grade,” she said. “Rick helped coach while our daughters climbed there.
“We were really excited when they offered it as a co-ed extracurricular activity because of our previous experience with climbing.”
Based on that previous experience, Cari said the couple wanted to start the club at Concord “because [ultimately] climbing encourages camaraderie and school spirit.”
Lilly has since graduated, and now, younger daughter, Piper, a CCS sophomore, is a member of Concord Climbing Club, making it a true family affair.
Cari, a native of Kingsport, said she began climbing at River Sports in her “early 20s, and loved it. It was just a great way to challenge myself and have fun.”



