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Meghan McDonald

@megclimbs

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Mental Performance Coach
Head Coach US Youth National Team
@clmbiq 💪 @drlarapence ❤️
🏳️‍⚧️ support trans athletes

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Event Overview
We’re excited to bring our nation’s top competitors together ahead of the 2026 Youth World Championship in Arco, Italy. This event will be geared towards building community, cultivating culture, and helping athletes prepare for the demands of international competition.

We’ll be debriefing Youth National Championship performances, returning to routes and boulders from YNC, and honing our fundamental movement skills in the USAC TC. Athletes will head home from this event with concrete takeaways to guide their final preparations for the World Championship.
Coaching Staff
Meghan McDonald - Youth National Team Head Coach
Frankie Caiazzo - Youth and Elite National Team Assistant Coach
Jon Mavko - Youth National Team Apprentice
Jasper Jarecki - Youth National Team Intern
Charlie Barron - Youth National Team Intern
Athlete Eligibility & Pricing
Current U17 and U19 athletes who meet the following criteria are eligible for registration:

First Round Registration (6/10 - 6/19)
2025 National Team Members
2026 Elite Series Top-30 Ranking
Second Round Registration (6/20 - 6/29)
2025 National Development Team Members
2026 Divisional Gold and Silver Medalists
Reserved Registration (6/30 - 7/4)
2026 National Team Members

Registration costs $450. Maximum capacity for the event is 60 athletes total, with 20 spots held in reserve for athletes who earn their place on the National Team at the 2026 Youth National Championship.
Additional info via the link in BIO. by @megclimbs

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4 months ago

Documented L+M’s date day in PG last week and loved every minute of it.

Shout out to @lucyspg for always being such a cool ice cream stop.

#pacificgrovephotographer #loverspointbeach #californiaweddingphotographer taken in Pacific Grove, California by @megclimbs

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5 months ago

People have been harmed and killed — not just in Minnesota, and not just this week.
This should not be normalized.
Human lives are not collateral damage. ICE and the systems and people that enable and protect it must be accountable. by @megclimbs

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9 months ago

Kit turns ✌️ today. This year brought more plot twists than I could’ve imagined—and somehow also more love. Happy birthday, little nugget. You’re my favorite thing. ❤️ Thanks to everyone who’s been there for us this year—it really means a lot. by @megclimbs

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a year ago

🎉 Happy 1st Birthday to my little adventurer! 🎉

Watching you grow and explore has been my greatest joy. Your fearless spirit, curiosity, and infectious smile fill my heart every day. Here’s to many more adventures together. I love you so much! ❤️🌈#firstbirthday #firstclimb by @megclimbs

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2 years ago

There’s no place like home ✨ 🙌 taken in Denver, Colorado by @megclimbs

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3 years ago

My face says it all. May 25th, 2023 - Welcome to the world Kit James Wattiker. We’re all so in love 🤍 taken in Denver, Colorado by @megclimbs

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3 years ago

#happyinternationalwomensday

I’m forever grateful and honored to be a part of the WISH program @wish_pathway whose aim is supporting female coaches with the tools they need to excel at the highest levels of coaching in their sport.

While Tokyo 2020 broke new ground as the most gender-balanced Olympic Games to date, with 48% female participation, there is still a long way to go towards *gender equality* when it comes to female coaches and officials. Just 10% of accredited coaches at the Olympic Summer and Winter Games over the past decade have been women. We’re grateful to the International Olympic Committee’s long-term desire and commitment to see this change and to accelerate women’s representation in sports leadership roles.

Thank you to the IOC for supporting the Gender Equality and Inclusion Objectives, to Olympic Solidarity (esp Sheila Stephens-Desbans and Yassine Yousif) for your generous support of the program and for championing the need of women’s voices in coaching, to the @ifsclimbing and @usaclimbing for believing in me and supporting me to be my best, and most of all, to our amazing facilitators who work tirelessly throughout the year to make this program happen. We’re endlessly appreciative and inspired. taken in University of Hertfordshire by @megclimbs

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4 years ago

I’ve played, participated in, and coached sports nearly all my life. Sports has given me purpose, built resilience, fostered community, taught me to continually try hard and learn when faced with challenges. I’m grateful for all of my teammates, fellow coaches, and athletes over the years. We’re doing amazing things! Keep tying hard, doing good, and having fun!! Happy #ngwsd by @megclimbs

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4 years ago

2022 Nats is a wrap! So many amazing moments to cherish! I loved supporting my @clmbiq athletes, loved how they supported each other, loved seeing old @goteamrock climbers and coaches and loved watching our community of athletes support one another with heads held high, volunteers seamlessly running the ship, coaches lending helping hands to other teams, routesetters passionately putting up challenge after challenge, photographers capturing moments we’ll treasure forever, and usac staff, judges, and @firstascentarlingtonheights running yet another fantastic competition. This community never seizes to amaze me and I’m proud to be a part of it. When we’re all better, we’re all better. 📸 @theshortbeta @thetallbeta @thejustrightbeta @breesframes @aryana_bhatt taken in First Ascent Arlington Heights by @megclimbs

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4 years ago

Gotta give a big shout out to @_briansquire_. I remember looking into the utter disappointment of his munchkin youth D eyes and reminding him again that his time would come. Deeply emotional and fiercely competitive, he’s always pushed his own limitations. Over the years, somehow, despite all his success, he didn’t feel like he’d arrived yet. Brian, you’re only starting to scratch the surface of what’s possible, but never doubt you’ve arrived - that’s a reflection of the years of effort and dedication, riding the ups and the downs, and enjoying the process. Stay humble, and keep striving, as always! Congrats on a tremendous year - Youth Bouldering National Champion, NACS Lead Champion, the Hardboy Trifecta complete! #whatsnext @goclmb by @megclimbs

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4 years ago

#tbt B’s less than thrilled that moms got her a new sister but trying face @beechertheboston #stonecold #rbf #whyisshesoclosetome taken in Los Angeles, California by @megclimbs

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6 years ago