Climbing the walls.

• Position: SPORTS

William Fredericks grew up near the Rocky Mountains, home to some of the best rock climbing in the country. But until last fall Fredericks, 15, a freshman at Adams City High School in Commerce City, Colo., had never experienced the sport for himself. Then he joined the Climbing Eagles, a competitive team at his school. Fredericks now finds climbing far more exciting than traditional sports. "I love the mental game in climbing," he says. More than 50 high schools nationwide have established climbing teams, with about 1,000 students participating. "In five years...