Andrew Deming

Co-Founder

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Rory Coughlin

Director of Routesetting, Instructor, Co-Founder

I began climbing in 2002, shortly after moving to Philadelphia, where the existing community there took me under their wing and started me on the climbing path. My passion for climbing has taken me across the world, climbing in Thailand, Sardinia, Sicily, Northern Italy, South Africa, and Mexico. I hope to give back to the […]

Alexi Windler

Assistant Manager, Climbing Coach

I was first introduced to climbing at Tufas Boulder Lounge in August 2019. Having never been involved in sports in my adult life, I was surprised by how suddenly I began to fall in love with the sport. What started out as a hobby eventually became a passion, then a lifestyle and integral part of […]

Idaho Ketcham

Retail Manager, Front Desk Attendant

I grew up for the most part around Hockessin, Delaware but also New Hampshire and Maine as a teenager. I first got into climbing when I was 13, frequenting climbing crags in the White Mountains. In 2016, I moved to a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, where I worked as a climbing and […]

Nick Ranelli

Head Coach, Director of Programming

I started climbing back in the summer of 2016 at Doylestown Rock Gym, originally going with the intention of training for American Ninja Warrior. I quickly fell in love with climbing and joined the youth competitive team that very fall and haven’t stopped climbing and competing ever since! My passion for climbing lies in the […]

Roxy Taginya

Community Programming Director

I started climbing 3 years ago when my sister purchased us an intro to belay class down in Maryland. Being terrified of heights made me reluctant to go but I was quickly bit by the climbing bug and have been climbing ever since (sans pandemia lockdown). I love cheering my fellow climbers on when I […]

Tim Carr

Front Desk Attendant

I grew up wrestling and playing rugby. Weight training was always an integral part of those sports, however when I stopped competing I felt weight listing became a bit monotonous. Once I was introduced to climbing by a friend, I have been climbing ever since. I think the aspect I enjoy most about bouldering is […]

Josh Schneider

Front Desk Attendant

I first got into rock climbing by going bouldering with my dad at our local PRG. I instantly fell in love with the challenges climbing posed and how many climbs are like large puzzles. Also, climbing is super healthy, so I started doing it more and more. I found out about TUFAS through the Temple […]

Satya Simpson

Front Desk Attendant

I first learned what bouldering was in 2019 while I was at Florida State University and simply trying something new with friends. Climbing quickly became a passion of mine, and I found myself meeting new people, getting stronger, and improving my skills. I moved up to Philly in August 2022 and I’m thrilled to be […]

Ben Berger

Youth Coach, Front Desk Attendant

I got back into climbing in the summer of 2019 with my friends in the Appalachian Mountains. It provided a great outlet during the pandemic that I’ve stuck with to this day. I believe that Tufas provides that relaxed, friendly, and inclusive environment that draws so many to the sport. Catch me at the front […]

Shikha Darji

Admin, Front Desk Attendant

My first climbing experience was in 2018 at the New River Gorge for a friend’s birthday camp & climb trip, but I truly fell in love with climbing when I moved to Philly in 2021 and joined a climbing gym. For the past year, I have been finding myself more and more pulled towards and […]

Lili Chranko

Front Desk Attendant

I first started climbing Summer 2022 in my hometown of Baltimore. Climbing quickly became a passion of mine and has connected me with an amazing community. I wa obsessed, climbing every day for weeks and quickly learned the importance of taking rest days the hard way when I had to take a month’s rest from […]

Maddox Zhang

Front Desk Attendant

A friend of mine introduced me to climbing only about a year ago and I was hooked. I had been lifting for 5 years before I started climbing at Tufas and it was the perfect balance of strength and mobility work to incorporate into my routine. I’ve always loved Tufas’s focus on community and trying […]

Amanda Waller

Front Desk Attendant

I started climbing in 2022. I have a group of friends that are pretty active climbers and had been trying to get me to join them for years. Finally, I came to Tufas on a guest pass with one of them, and I was hooked! Climbing for me is a supplement to my main focuses […]

Pat Puzio

Routesetter

Andrew Izzo

Routsetter

I grew up just outside Phoenixville, in the Northeast suburbs of Philly. In 2015, at the tender age of 18, I was introduced to climbing at my local gym. Despite an un-athletic background, I was hooked and have spent my time doing little else since then— even at the expense of my grades and social life. […]

Rich Joerger

Climbing Coach

I grew up in the Poconos with no idea what climbing was. The first time I ever had the chance to experience climbing was at Frost Valley YMCA in upstate New York when I couldn’t have been older than 11. I was so scared of falling that I cried on top-rope and couldn’t get more […]

Gianni DeSanto

Climbing Coach, Routesetter

I originally found climbing while training for American Ninja Warrior when I noticed climbers excelled at Stage 3’s grip intensive obstacles. What started as cross training back in 2019 became the sport I love and focus on today. The mix of problem solving and physical challenge is what I’m so drawn to as it feels […]

Anant Mathur

Youth Coach

I fell I love with climbing the first time I got on the wall. I have been climbing for 8 years and have loved being part of the community. I got into climbing through a Groupon my mom found for a gym, and never stopped climbing since. At this point in my life, I want […]

Tobey Eckert

Climbing Coach

I first found climbing in 2014 at a tiny general fitness gym wall in Connecticut and was immediately struck by the depth of the disciplines. At the time, there were three gyms in Connecticut, none of which were anywhere near where I was. After a good portion of a decade being spent commuting 45 minutes […]