HBHS WINS 2008 INTERSCHOLASTIC STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CHURCH!

STATE CHAMPION HUNTINGTON BEACH HIGH SCHOOL

The NSSA kicked off its 2008 Championship Series March 7-9 with the Interscholastic State Championships at Church beach in the treasured San Onofre State Park. Consistent combo swells from the northwest and southwest provided rippable 2-4 foot conditions for 350 student surfers at Churchs’ fun cobblestone reef. 15 colleges, 12 high schools and 10 middle schools competed for prestigious State Championship crowns while also vying for qualification to the 2008 National Interscholastic Championships June 18-21 at Salt Creek.
No. 4 ranked Huntington Beach High School came ready to challenge and it showed as they trounced the competition 108-82 over runner-up Carlsbad. The State Championships provides a stiff early test to the Nationals and the Oilers came prepared and focused on their championship goal which was a key element to their success. The 17-time National Champs came marching in from the get-go and never surrendered their lead from round one. Although National Champion San Dieguito, Carlsbad and San Clemente kept it close after the first round, the Oilers went on a tear in round two and never looked back. The championship result may have been lopsided but the High School Men’s final was well represented with HB, San Clemente, Carlsbad, Carpenteria and Edison team members. “I’m amazed at the high level of surfing this weekend,” said Huntington Beach head coach Andy Verdone. “The traditional powerhouses like San Clemente, Carlsbad and San Dieguito are still killing it and always a threat.” Now Edison is right there and Newport Harbor has some mad skills and are going to be dangerous.” Oiler team members Kyle McGeary and Quinn McCrystal earned High Men’s final berths placing second and fifth respectively. HB’s special teams also played a significant role with Sara Taylor placing fifth in the Women’s final and Wade Carden taking sixth in Longboard. “Team captain Quinn McCrystal led us all the way through to the finals and he’s been trying to do that for four years,” Verdone said. “We have a great class this year. Our entire team was down here giving support. Our coaches Barry and Jeff Deffenbaugh are emphasizing fundamentals again whereas I think we got away from that in the past few years. They are former NSSA Champions and they bring youth and excitement to the squad.”

San Clemente High School’s Doug Van Mierlo made the hometown crowd proud winning the Men’s final in a close decision over HB’s McGeary 13.66-13.33. Both surfers put on an electrifying aerial show with McGeary launching a huge aerial reverse on a right earning the highest wave score of 8.83 while Van Mierlo was punting on the steeper, racy lefts. Newport Harbor’s Kaleigh Gilchrist nailed her first NSSA championship title in a close decision over Laguna Beach’s Taylor Pitz 10.50-10.17. Pitz was in contention after notching a heat high 7.0 wave but fell a fraction short on her second score. Both Gilchrist and Pitz hold a top five ranking in the Southwest Open Season. In the Longboard division, Edison’s Jeff Newell surfed strong enough to claim his first NSSA championship crown despite getting slapped with an interference penalty.

With HB’s elevation to No. 1 status and their confidence riding high, the National Championships will be as exciting as it gets. Last year’s runner up Carlsbad is sick of silver and will be hungry to go all the way in 2008. Reigning National champion San Dieguito will be on a quest to defend and eight-time National Champion San Clemente can’t be overlooked. Edison and Newport Harbor made plenty of noise at State and could be a title sleeper in June. When asked about his National title hopes Verdone said, “I think our chances are strong and we are going to be there to compete. Salt Creek is a whole nother venue with a different approach. I’m excited for the kids.” It would be their first since 1998. “I think we have a good chance to win the Nationals and we’re definitely not going to start slacking off now,” added McCrystal. “I’m going to get everyone out there bright and early tomorrow, keep working and keep going. We haven’t won the Nationals in ten years, so I’d be stoked to finally be the one to bring it back.”

As expected, Shorecliffs dominated the Middle School Championships with a 138-77 blowout over Sowers. For the third consecutive year, Shorecliffs came with a powerhouse squad that led from start to finish. The team boasted five of the six finalists in the Boys division including defending Boys State Champ Ian Crane who pulled off his second straight. In an extremely tight final, Crane used his impressive aerial skills to edge out Carpenteria’s Parker Coffin. Crane stomped a technical frontside air reverse on a left which earned a 7.17 and put him out front of the pack. “I wanted to stick to the lefts because I’m goofy-foot,” Crane said. “I was going for the bigger moves and then pulled that air reverse which was enough.” In the Girls final, Shorecliffs’ Melina Smith claimed her first NSSA championship title. Dwyer’s Tony Bartovich surfed a fantastic heat in the Longboard final posting two good wave scores of 7.67 and 6.00 and taking the victory by a four point margin.