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sports:
surfing
LBSU surf team
takes 2nd at Nationals
By Danielle
Grossman
On-line Forty-Niner
Long Beach State
placed second in the National Scholastic Surfing Association
Interscholastic State Championship on Saturday, giving up
the title to defending champion Mira Costa with a score of
122-120.
"I thought
it was fun, but I was disappointed that we got second,"
LBSU team member Mike Reilley said. "The waves were small.
Ben and I got good performances, but a lot of the team didn't
do so well."
The Beach entered
the championship looking for revenge on UC Santa Barbara who
grabbed the conference title, leaving LBSU in second place
and Mira Costa in third.
"It was very
exciting because it was all the top schools," The Beach's
Ben Will said. "The competition was more intense than
during the regular season. Of course I was disappointed but
I think second place is great. We were hungry for that title."
The championship
became a battle between first-year competitor LBSU and defending
2000 State and National Champion Mira Costa due to UCSB's
slow start. Both The Beach and Mira Costa had team members
in the women's and men's finals and Longboard competitions.
In the women's
final, LBSU's Jodi Nelson took second, leaving the state title
to Mira Costa's Kyle Langen who scored an 8.5 in the last
moments of the heat.
"It was really
close, and I think it was a split decision," Reilley
said on Nelson's win. "She's a world-travel surfer and
she did really well. She's a busy girl with all her obligations
and her kid, so we're happy she showed up."
Mira Costa topped
The Beach in the Longboard final with Mira Costa's Ryan Cardone
placing fourth. LBSU team members Jon Husak placed fifth and
Aaron Garrett placed sixth.
Both teams had
two members in the men's final. The Beach's Will claimed the
state title and teammate Reilley placed third. Mira Costa's
Dave Baughman took second and Sam Baugh took fifth.
"I did bad
the whole year, so I was just focused on winning," Reilley
said. "Ben was the man the whole year. He was he backbone
of everything."
"I'm really
stoked," Will said. "I surf every day and the most
important thing was getting the points. I was just happy to
be there and participate. The amount of talent on campus is
amazing; Mike's a three-time national champion."
LBSU was up one
point, with only the bodyboard final to go. However, The Beach's
bodyboarder didn't make the final and Mira Costa's Matt Downey
did. Downey placed fourth, giving Mira Costa two points over
LBSU.
"I'm very
disappointed," Reilley said. "One of our main guys
was in Miami and our bodyboarder was sick. Mira Costa surfed
really well."
On June 23 - 24
LBSU, Mira Costa, and UCSB will be vying for the national
title at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point during the 2001 NSSA
National Championship.
"Our chances
in the Nationals are excellent," Will said. "Santa
Barbara won the season title and Mira Costa won the state
title. We've been competing all year and now it's our turn
to win one. If everyone comes together, we should get it.
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