Andrew Izzo

I began climbing back in high school in 2012 in my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. A coastal city located several hours from the nearest rocks, there is a surprisingly strong climbing community that has developed with the only bouldering gym in town. I continued climbing through high school and my time at the College of Charleston, where I led the Climbing Club on trips throughout the Southeast’s legendary bouldering areas. I started routesetting at the gym in 2016 and continued up until I moved to Philadelphia in 2021. In all of my climbing-related endeavors, I hope to create and foster the same passion for the sport that I have, and create memorable experiences for climbers of all levels. Outside of climbing, I spend most of time playing piano. I’ve been a gigging jazz pianist since I was 13, and I firmly believe that it’s been pretty good cross training for finger strength. I’m very excited to be a part of the community at Tufas and look forward to learning how to be a better setter, resource, and student for the community!

Izzo began working in climbing gyms in high school and has watched routesetters closely since then. He finally convinced Rory to let him pick up the drill in late 2018. On rest days he tries his best at online chess and hangs out with his cat and partner at home. 

“The more I visit climbing gyms and learn about the setting industry, the more I appreciate Tufas’ routesetting environment. Setters here are provided with all the tools, time, and guidance to bring high quality routes to our members. And most importantly, setter health is prioritized, enabling progression in our own climbing and training pursuits. I would not be at the same place in my climbing career if not for the support and development provided by the Tufas team.”