Ocean City Rallies Behind Championship Surfing Team

When Ocean City High School won its 19th consecutive regional surfing title in April, the team's biggest challenge began: getting to Southern California to compete for a national title.

Local businesses and members of the community rallied to help fully fund the team's trip — and the surfers returned to Ocean City today after raising some eyebrows on the national stage in Dana Point, Calif.

The team posted a Top 10 finish in the National Scholastic Surfing Association's Interscholastic Championships, and several individual surfers advanced beyond the preliminary rounds. Competition was Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16.

A total of 43 teams and more than 370 surfers competed in both team and individual categories including male, female and longboard divisions. Each team is composed of 9 surfers consisting of 6 males, 2 females and 1 longboarder. 

Ocean City's surfers enjoyed overhead sets for the weekend competition at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.

In the weeks leading to the competition, the community came out to support the team's fundraising efforts at a wing night sponsored by DiOrio's Cafe in Somers Point, a surfers' yard sale, a car wash at the Ocean City Intermediate School, a music and frozen yogurt night (sponsored by Yoasis owner Tina Spadafora, a former member of the team, and featuring team members Luke Kelly, Cliff Morin and Jake Kreiser playing music).

The Mathews family at Copiers Plus and area Realtors also were generous with contributions.