Athletics
High Performance Athletics
Climbing
MacLachlan College is proud to launch a bold new vision for competitive climbing in Canada.
We’re proud to welcome Team Canada athletes Maddie and Zach Richardson to our coaching team. Maddie is ranked #1 in Canada and 18ᵗʰ in the world in Bouldering, while Zach, ranked #3 nationally, is a seasoned competitor with eight National Champion titles.
Both are actively competing and training for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. They join Jan Stevenson, MAC’s experienced Head Climbing Coach and certified gymnastics, CrossFit, and climbing instructor.
In partnership with Richardsons Climbing, MacLachlan offers two elite pathways for young athletes: the Competitive Climbing Program and the High-Performance Climbing Program.
Competitive Climbing Program
Our Competitive Climbing Program, supports athletes looking to develop the necessary skills to compete in local competitions, Provincial qualifiers, Provincials, and Regionals.
Athletes finding success in our Competitive Program then graduate into our High-Performance Climbing Program, to compete at the National, University, and international levels.
Our Competitive Program is designed for students in Grades 4-12 with casual climbing experience who are looking to commit to specialized training to become a ranked competitor in Ontario.
Athletes climb three days per week (Mon/Thurs/Fri) from 3:30-5:00pm and receive strength and conditioning training two days per week (Tues/Thurs) from 5:00-6:00pm. On the first Wednesday of each month, they will join our High-Performance team and participate in an ‘Off the Wall’ training session focused on movement analysis, mental skills, tactics, lifestyle habits, and performance mindset. These sessions often include guest speakers such as Maddie and Zach, along with other elite athletes, route setters, dieticians, and our certified mental performance coach.
High-Performance Climbing Program
MacLachlan’s High-Performance Climbing Program, powered by Richardsons Climbing, is designed for athletes aiming to compete at the National, University, and International levels.
Our High-Performance program is specifically designed to elevate high-level athletes in Grades 4–12 who are looking for the time, structure, and professional coaching they need to thrive in competitive climbing.
High-Performance athletes climb between once and twice daily, four days per week (Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri), including two dedicated strength and conditioning sessions on (Tues/Fri).
High-Performance athletes climb between once and twice daily, four days per week (Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri), including two dedicated strength and conditioning sessions on (Tues/Fri).
Wednesday is our ‘Off the Wall’ training day, focused on movement analysis, mental skills, tactics, lifestyle habits, and performance mindset, a unique offering made possible through MacLachlan’s partnerships with our expert support staff. These sessions often include guest speakers such as Maddie and Zach, along with other elite athletes, route setters, dieticians, and our certified mental performance coach.
Training Schedule
Every month, Team Richardson will spend a full week on site providing hands-on coaching to athletes. Jan Stevenson, our Head Climbing Coach, will oversee the day-to-day execution of the program full-time. Maddie and Zach will also continue to support athletes remotely through individualized video review and feedback. Additionally, athletes will have full access to a Chat Portal where they can ask questions and get advice anytime from our coaches.
The amount of training will vary based on grade level:
For grades 9-12, athletes’ morning climbing session will be during Period 1, and they will be earning their gym course credit through the program.
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Grade
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Climbing (Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri)
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Strength & Conditioning (Tues/Fri)
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4-8
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3:30-5:00pm
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5:00-6:00pm
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9-10
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Week 1: 8:00-9:15am, 3:30-5:00pm
Week 2: 6:30-7:45am, 3:30-5:00pm
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5:00-6:00pm
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11-12
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8:00-9:15am, 3:30-5:00pm
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5:00-6:00pm
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For grades 9-12, athletes’ morning climbing session will be during Period 1, and they will be earning their gym course credit through the program.
Competition
The Ontario Competition season begins in December with two local competitions per discipline (rope climbing and bouldering). These serve as qualifiers for the Provincial Championships, which typically take place in March. Athletes will also compete in 1-2 to local ‘fun’ events.
Top athletes from Provincials advance to the Regional Championships in April, which brings together the best athletes in Eastern Canada. Here, top athletes qualify for the Youth National Championships in May.
Explore Our Climbing Pathways
For details about our Competitive and High-Performance Climbing Programs, please contact Head Coach Jan Stevenson.
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