Hawai'i competitors rule surf in California
| • | Kaua'i's Kennelly, Ballard 1-2 in Indonesian meet |
| • | Results |
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i surfers ruled the school at the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Championships last week at San Clemente, Calif.
Hawai'i competitors won 10 of the 16 individual divisions during the week-long competition.
"We dominated again, I would have to say," said David Riddle, one of the Hawai'i coaches. "And there were no judges up there from the Hawai'i region, so if I could compare it to a prize fight, it was like we had to win by knockout every time."
More than 500 amateur surfers from around the nation participated. Competition was held at Lower Trestles, where waves ranged from less than a foot to 3 feet.
"The interesting part was that the Hawai'i kids rode bad waves really well," Riddle said. "I saw the small waves and went, 'uh-oh, we're in trouble.' But the kids came through."
Individual champions from Hawai'i were: Josh Wills (explorer bodyboard), T.J. Barron (explorer boys surfing), Joel Centeio (explorer juniors surfing), Keegan Edwards (explorer longboard), Robbie Schofield (explorer men's surfing), Kai Barger (explorer menehune surfing), Sena Seramur (explorer women's surfing), Kepa Kruse (open bodyboard), Lance Gruber (open boys surfing) and Granger Larson (open mini-groms surfing). Explorer divisions are open to all competitors; open divisions are restricted to students with qualifying grades.
Centeio, a recent graduate of Campbell High, was one of the standouts of the contest. He fell one point short of becoming the first "triple champion" in NSSA history. In addition to his explorer juniors title, he won the high school boys championship (which was actually part of a team competition) and placed second by a single point in the open men's division to California's Greg Long.
"I thought he got slighted a little in the (open men's) final," Riddle said. "Joel was clearly the best surfer out there."
Seramur, a home-schooled senior from Kaua'i, was also edged out from sweeping the women's divisions. She won the explorer women's final, then placed a close second to California's Holly Beck in the open women's final.
"Just making it to the final was a big accomplishment because the waves were so small early in the week," Seramur said. "I thought I did well enough to win both titles, but I'm not complaining."
Since 1998, Seramur has won five NSSA championships, which is two short of the record held by California's Bobby Martinez.
Hawai'i also dominated the bodyboard divisions, with Makaha's Wills winning the explorer bodyboard division and placing second to Kaua'i's Kepa Kruse in the open bodyboard division. The bodyboard divisions have no age restrictions.
"This is my first time at the nationals," said Wills, 20, a student at Leeward Community College. "I didn't realize how big it was. The whole industry was there, and we got a big interview with Bodyboarding Magazine. I feel really lucky."
Gruber, a Kahuku Intermediate student, also won a national title in his first try, and received the Kalani Robb Most Inspirational Award.
How Hawai'i competitors fared
Explorer divisions
Bodyboard: 1, Josh Wills. 5, Shawn Tenora. 6, Alika Gaspar. Longboard: 1, Keegan Edwards. Menehune surfing: 1, Kai Barger. 3, Kyle Ramey. 4, Travis Beckman. 5, Dustin Payne. Boys surfing: 1, T.J. Barron. 2, Hank Gaskell. 5, Ola Eleogram. Juniors surfing: 1, Joel Centeio. 3, Ian Walsh. 4, Dustin Cuizon. 5, Cheyne Magnusson. Men surfing: 1, Robbie Schofield. 6, Billy Choi. Masters surfing: 3, Mike Latronic. Seniors surfing: 5, Mike Latronic. Women surfing: 1, Sena Seramur. 4, Anastasia Ashley.
Open divisions
Bodyboard: 1, Kepa Kruse. 2, Josh Wills. 3, Kyle Callaway. Mini-groms surfing: 1, Granger Larsen. 2, Thomas Clarke. 3, Albee Layer. 5, John John Florence. 6, Bullet Obra. Boys surfing: 1, Lance Gruber. 3, Clay Marzo. 5, Dustin Payne. 6, Chas Chidester. Juniors surfing: 3, Dustin Cuizon. 4, T.J. Barron. 5, Gavin Gillette. Men surfing: 2, Joel Centeio. 4, Sean Moody. Women surfing: 2, Sena Seramur. 3, Anstasia Ashley. 4, Lilia Boerner. 5, Taira Barron.
