Matty Costa was tested in the classroom and in international waters last month.

The results showed that he is ready to move to the next level as a student and a surfer.

Days after completing the course work for his freshman year at Wai'anae High, Costa placed third in the boys 16 division of the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships last week at Hossegor, France.

"I kind of surprised myself," said Costa, 14. "I knew I was one of the youngest guys there, so I just went out and tried hard and I kept going."

The boys 16 division featured more than 90 surfers from around the world, and Costa was one of four to reach the final heat. He received a bronze medal at the awards ceremony.

Costa's surprising performance was a key factor in Hawai'i placing third in the team standings.

The World Junior Championships featured more than 250 surfers representing 28 countries. Hawai'i was recognized as its own team for the event because of its storied history in the sport of surfing (the United States had a separate team and placed fourth in the team standings).

"For Matty to go and produce the way he did was a wonderful surprise and a big reason why we did as well as we did," Team Hawai'i coach Rainos Hayes said. "He was sort of like the last man picked for our team, but he went in with the right attitude and he ended up with a great result."

Australia won the team title, and Brazil placed second.

"Those are two pretty big countries with a lot of kids to choose from," Hayes said. "So for us from Hawai'i to finish behind those two teams and ahead of everybody else was quite the accomplishment."

Each team could use a roster of 12 surfers — four in the boys 18 division, four in the boys 16 division, and four in the girls 18 division.

Prior to the contest, each team had to rank its surfers for seeding purposes. Hayes said Costa was listed as Hawai'i's fourth seed in the boys 16 division.

"In theory, he had to surf in the hardest heats to make it to the final, which only makes his performance all the more impressive," Hayes said. "I think even the kids on our own team didn't know Matty was that good."

Hayes added that the double-elimination format of the event created a fair opportunity for each surfer.

"In order to make the final at this event, you have to be a special surfer," Hayes said. "You don't just luck your way to the final in this one. There's way too many heats."

The Hawai'i surfers had to endure severe tidal shifts and a cold ocean during the week-long contest.

"The water was super-cold," Costa said. "But there were some days when the waves were pretty good. It kind of reminded me of Makaha, but without the backwash."

In preparation for the contest, Costa said he did most of his practicing in small waves at Kewalo Basin. He said either his father, Matt Sr., or mother, Suezette, would make the drive from Wai'anae almost every day.

"My dad usually drives me where ever there's waves," Costa said. "But most days we go to Kewalos."

Matt Sr. and Suezette did not travel to France for the contest, but they did follow a live Web cast — in the dark of night and morning.

"Because of the time (difference), we were watching on the Internet from 8 o'clock at night to 7 in the morning," Suezette said. "We stayed up all night, then we went to work after that. But it was so exciting for us. When he made the final, we cried. Literally cried."

Also in preparation for the contest, Costa completed his final exams and papers earlier than the rest of the freshmen at Wai'anae High.

"My teachers were really cool about it," he said. "They let me finish my work early so I didn't have to worry about it on the trip or catch up when I came back."

He finished his freshman year with a grade point average around 3.0.

He said he also learned a lot about the culture of France during the trip, including the lack of rice during meals.

"I ate a lot of bread — I think I got skinnier during the trip," Costa said. "But I was just thinking about surfing the whole time, so it didn't really matter to me what we ate."

Costa was not the only Hawai'i surfer with a strong showing in France.

Kaua'i's Tyler Newton also reached a final, placing third in the boys 18 division. Newton is 17 and in his final year of a home school program.

"Tyler has shown that he can surf with anybody in waves of consequence," Hayes said. "So the big question with him was whether or not he'd be motivated to surf in waves that were not quite up to par with what he's used to and ... he answered the call."

Granger Larsen of Maui was eliminated in the semifinals, and placed fifth in the boys 18 division. Kaua'i surfers Alex Smith and Dylan Goodale tied for 16th place.

Hayes said he was also pleased with the performance of the Team Hawai'i girls.

Coco Ho of Sunset Beach placed seventh, Leila Hurst of Kaua'i was eighth, Malia Manuel of Kaua'i was ninth, and Alessa Quizon of Makaha placed 13th.

"As a group from top to bottom, our girls were as good as anybody, even though we didn't make the final," Hayes said. "And the best part is they're all young — they can come back next year."

Other members of the team were Keanu Asing, Tanner Hendrickson and Keala Naihe.

Hayes said he asked all 12 surfers on the team to stay on the beach to cheer for each other, win or lose.

"It was cool, we had a (Hawaiian) flag, and we all took turns carrying it up and down the beach," Costa said. "All the other teams look at us because we're from Hawai'i, so I was trying to hold the flag up high when it was my turn."