2020 Surfing WA School Surfing Tittles | Final Highlights
Margaret River Senior High School has taken out the 2020 Surfing WA School Surfing Titles at Trigg Beach in Western Australia.
The event concluded with a bang as students from 20 separate regional and metropolitan high schools battled tricky and wind-swept waves.
After ten qualifying events were held throughout Western Australia over the past month, the best of the best surfing schools in WA were on show.
Over 120 boys and girls hit the water in surfing and bodyboarding teams to see who would be crowned WA’s champion surfing school for 2020.
Margaret River Senior High School continued their impressive winning streak at the School Surfing Titles, claiming a record-breaking 15th consecutive champion school victory.
Margaret River’s depth of talent was on display as they ran away with five of the eight divisional wins.
The SunSmart WA School Surfing Titles provides a unique stepping stone for secondary students to reach the pinnacle of the sport for their age group, the Surf Dive ‘N Ski Australian Junior Surfing Titles.
For surfers, a win at Trigg would guarantee them a spot into the National Titles and the chance to compete against the best surfing schools from across the country.
Margaret River SHS dominated the hotly contested Senior Boys Surfing final, with an inspired performance from Gracetown duo Jed Gradisen and George Simpson.
Despite the best efforts of their Margaret River SHS classmates, Solomon Pogue-Englert and Jack Mitchell, it was an exciting and powerful display from Gradisen and Simpson that saw them take the victory.
“We’ve had a blast, and despite the conditions this arvo, it’s been an awesome day, said George Simpson.
“Big thanks to Mr. Sluiter and Mr. McTaggart for all their hard work and coaching they provide the whole team.”
Sophie Butcher and Mylee Grant from Nagle Catholic College in Geraldton won the Senior Girls Surfing final, defeating Milla Clifford and Mischa Edwards from Margaret River SHS.
“We’ve been competing together for four years, and we simply love this event,” said Butcher.
“We finished second last year to the girls from Margaret River, and it feels so good to go one better this year with Mylee.”
Brock Launders and Macklin Flynn kept the momentum rolling for Margaret River SHS, taking out the Junior Boys surfing division from Otis North and Maverick Wilson from St Mary Mackillop College in Busselton.
In one of the best matchup’s of the day, all four surfers performed strongly and scored highly.
“Otis and Maverick both surf so well we weren’t taking them lightly,” said Launders.
“It’s been a great day and well done to my teammate Macklin on helping us secured the win.”
Zali Hewson and Willow Hardy from Margaret River SHS are the reigning Junior Girls Surfing National Champions, and they proved why with a flashy performance in marginal afternoon waves.
Hewson and Hardy took down schoolmates Ruby Berry and Lilli Cox in the final.
“These events are always so much fun,” said Hewson. “Thanks to all the girls who competed today and pushed Willow and all the way.”
In other results, Sacred Heart College’s Jack Mickle and Andrew Browning won the Senior Boys Bodyboarding final, taking down Luke Gibson and Christy Black from Duncraig SHS.
Quinn’s Baptist College made a noticeable improvement in 2020, reaching multiple finals.
Quinn’s won the Senior Girls Bodyboarding final with Ebony Schell and Eleanor Riley powering ahead of Lilli Cox and Willow Hardy from Margaret River SHS.
Margaret River SHS won the Junior Boys Bodyboarding division, with Matt Jordi and Holden Ross claiming back-to-back wins over Riley Schell and John Salmon from Quinn’s Baptist College.
Lilla Grace-Howarth and Kaleisha Launders notched up Margaret River’s final win in the Junior Girls bodyboard division, with Ella Vullinovich and Lyla Macpherson from Newman College finishing in second place.
2020 SunSmart WA School Surfing Titles | Champions
School Results
1. Margaret River Senior High
2. Quinn’s Baptist College
3. Sacred Heart & Nagle Catholic College
4. Duncraig SHS, St Mary Mackillop College, Newman College
Senior Boys Surfing
Champion School: Margaret River SHS 1 (Jed Gradisen & George Simpson): 28.5
Senior Girls Surfing
Champion School: Nagle Catholic College (Sophie Butcher & Mylee Grant): 16.0
Junior Boys Surfing
Champion School: Margaret River SHS (Brock Launders & Macklin Flynn): 28.6
Junior Girls Surfing
Champion School: Margaret River SHS 1 (Zali Hewson & Willow Hardy): 28.7
Runner Up School: Margaret River SHS 2 (Ruby Berry & Lilli Cox): 22.2
Senior Boys Bodyboarding
Champion School: Sacred Heart College (Jack Mickle & Andrew Browning): 30.6
Senior Girls Bodyboarding
Champion School: Quinn’s Baptist College (Ebony Schell & Eleanor Riley ): 22.5
Junior Boys Bodyboarding
Champion School: Margaret River SHS (Matt Jordi & Holden Ross): 22.0
Junior Girls Bodyboarding
Champion School: Margaret River SHS (Lilla Grace-Howarth & Kaleisha Launders): 15.0
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