YOUNGSTOWN — As a state-tested nurse’s aide, Kira Bowman feels a proud connection to the residents with whom she works, though she feels a different kind of connective pull when moving up in the world.

“I’ve been coming to YSU since I was little,” Bowman, a Youngstown State University senior and biology major, said.

Her latest on-campus experience was carefully and skillfully climbing as high as possible during Saturday’s annual bouldering competition in the university’s John S. and Doris M. Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

The four-hour friendly competition featured YSU students, as well as some from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, West Virginia University in Morgantown and Clarion University in Clarion, Pa. Also mixed in were some local climbers.

Bowman, who also is minoring in chemistry and has worked at the Jewish Community Center for five years, said she derived part of her interest in climbing from her father, Michael, who works as an administrative assistant in Kilcawley Center and has a passion for backpacking and several other outdoor pursuits.

Bowman added that she’s done climbing most of her life, though she had taken a hiatus because of her studies and other school obligations.

The climbing wall at YSU reaches 53 feet, though competitors were challenged to climb up to about 15 feet on any of 40 routes. Depending on their skill level, participants were in either the beginner-intermediate or intermediate-advanced brackets, Thomas Worsham, adventure recreation coordinator, noted.

Points were given for each climb, but were subtracted for subsequent attempts up to five. Competitors’ final scores were based on the average of their five point tallies, Worsham explained.

He added that prizes were awarded to the top three finishers in each of the two brackets.

“I’ve been climbing for about five years, two or three times a week,” Nick Summerlin, a WVU student double majoring in parks and recreation as well as fish and wildlife, said.

Summerlin, who was in the intermediate-advanced category, added that his school has a climbing wall about the same height as YSU’s, but several times more expansive.

On the other hand, Baldwin Wallace University lacks such a wall, though a large gym near the campus fills that void, said Molly Cancian, a BWU junior majoring in English.

“I started climbing consistently during my freshman year,” Cancian added. “Honestly, it’s such a positive environment. Everyone is so supportive (of one another), even when competing.”

Fairly new to the art of boulder climbing was YSU senior Jasmine Santiago, who began the pursuit less than a year ago. After showing a little hesitation on her first attempt Saturday, determination took over as she tried the route several more times.

Another valuable piece of climbing can be found in its ability to unify competitors with one another and break down certain barriers and judgments, explained Corie Murdoch of Austintown. She is a member of ASCEND Youngstown, a rock-climbing gym in Boardman, from which several others competed in Saturday’s bouldering event.

“The climbing community is very kind; everybody’s rooting for each other. Overall, it’s like a family,” Murdoch said, adding, “If someone is discouraged or doesn’t do well, you feel how they feel and encourage them to keep trying.”