ISF COASTAL DIVISION CHAMPIONS:Newport boys, girls win short board titles

OCEANSIDE — Newport Harbor High surf coach Scott Morlan said it was something he had never experienced in his 12 years with the Sailors. It was championships for his boys’ and girls’ teams Sunday at the Interscholastic Surfing Federation state championships at Oceanside.

The Newport Harbor boys won the ISF Coastal Division short board championship and the girls won the ISF Coastal Division short board title.

The girls’ championship actually came from a little bit of help from the Newport Harbor boys. Kaleigh Gilchrist showed up on Sunday morning at the competition without a surfboard, Morlan said. She borrowed boards from Tyler Tarlow and Victor Done.

Gilchrist then won four straight heats. Camille Collette and Hailey Sandberg also contributed to the Sailors’ championship.

Tarlow and Done were part of the Newport Harbor boys’ short board title, along with Stevie Farmer, Colin McElroy, Chase Wilson, Mark Contreras, Christian Morabito, Cameron Clark and Jared Cassidy.

In the final heat, Cassidy, a freshman, came in first to give the Sailors a big boost to the win.

“This is a big deal,” Morlan said of the two ISF championships. “We see the other teams have banners for championships at our school. I want to get one of those banners made up for us. It’s so exciting.”

The teams will now host the eighth annual Newport Harbor High Surf Classic March 31 and April 1 at 56th Street in Newport Beach. The event is the primary fundraiser for the Sailors’ surf team. Entry fee for the event is $30, which includes a T-shirt, raffle ticket and lunch.

There will be eight divisions, including middle school (grades sixth through eighth) short board, high school (grades 9 through 12) short board, open long board, open body board, open men’s short board, open women’s short board and long board, and open masters (age 40 and up).

Those interested can sign up at Surfside Sports Shop, 233 E. 17th Street, in Costa Mesa.