This past weekend (March 1-3), Point Loma Nazarene University’s surf team took to the waters at Encinitas for the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s California State Championships. For the past four years, PLNU has took home the gold, claiming the title of state champs. This year, their streak continued and they became five-time state champions. At Seaside Reef Friday, March 1, the surfing began bright an early, with the women’s heats at 7 a.m. It was a grey morning, but the waves were promising at the team reported via social media. PLNU surfers Maddie Lomonaco and Brooklyn Hulse took first and third in the first rounds, while another team member, Will Allen, was on his way to the semifinals for longboard. Allen and Lomonaco both advanced to the finals. As the rest of the men’s team fueled up with Yerba Mate, both captains and PLNU seniors, Neimann and Brennan Aubol, advanced through round two.
PLNU’s surf team continued to place above the competition in the final rounds and then next day, Neimann placed first and headed straight on to the finals along with his teammates Lomonaco and Allen. Sunday, the sun finally broke through the clouds, both literally and figuratively. PLNU surf co-captain Andrew Niemann took first in every heat, gaining the team’s first state title of the season. Allen took fourth for longboarding and Lomonaco placed third for the Women’s Shortboard. “And just like that, 5-time state champs!” wrote the team on their Instagram story. “Thanks to everyone for the support and stoke. And amazing job to the whole team on a great performance this event!”
Captains Niemann and Aubol then posed surfside with their gold trophy.
In June, the team will head to the NSSA Nationals in Huntington Beach to compete against the best surf teams in the U.S.