Wet ‘n’ Wild with Rockin’ Fig:

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. had its high school, middle school and college State Championships a couple of weekends ago at Church’s Beach, San Clemente, in fun two- to four-foot surf.

Almost 40 schools were looking to take home a possible individual and team State Title. Going into the event, 17-time National champs Huntington Beach High was a slight under dog, even though you can never rule out.

Things were looking pretty even in the first few rounds but by the finals, the Oilers had really started to build momentum. In the hotly contested mens’ high school final, San Clemente’s Doug Van Mierlo pulled off a slim, one-third-of-a-point victory with some airs and solid turns over Huntington Beach’s Kyle McGeary who busted an air reverse, for a top score of 8.83 but just came up a hair short of the win. Huntington’s Team Captain Quinn McCrystal was ripping too, also making the final, placing fifth while Edison’s Vane Smith rounded out the top six spots.

Newport Harbor’s Kaleigh Gilchrist picked up a title in women’s, but Huntington’s Sara Taylor earned more points for the Oiler’s with a fifth-place finish. Edison’s Jeff Newell had a great run in the longboards winning it, and Huntington’s Wade Carden placed sixth, respectively.

So final tally: Huntington pulls off a big upset with 108 points to runner up Carlsbad who was second at the National’s last year with 82 points; third place, was last year’s National champs, San Dieguito with 72 points; San Clemente, an eight-time National champs pretty recently, earned fourth with 69 points; Edison, close to another upset with 68 points; and Newport Harbor with 66. Huntington coach Andy Verdone and the team now has some steam heading toward the National’s in June, a title they haven’t won in more than 10 years.

In the college action, winning two years in a row in the men’s final was Jason McIlwee from Saddleback pretty much owning it, with UC San Diego’s Lauren Sweeney winning the women’s. Another strong year for Point Loma’s Troy Mothershead, who has won six straight state titles, as a grom in middle school, as a high schooler for San Clemente and now college too. But a solid showing by UC Santa Barbara surfers netted them a title with a slim victory over San Diego State, 124 to 122. Saddleback finished third with 88 points.

In middle schools, top ranked Shore Cliffs proved to be to strong for any of the others to deal with as they took a whopping victory 138 to 77 victory over second-place Huntington’s Sowers. Shorecliffs Ian Crane won again, two years in a row, and five out of six surfers in the boys finals were from Shorecliffs. In girl’s, Shorecliffs Melina Smith took the win and Dwyer’s Paige Ortiz had some nice rides placing third, and Sowers’ Torrey Miethke was fourth.

In long board Dwyer’s Tony Bartovich ripped to first, helping them get fourth overall in the standings and Sowers’ Chandler Stirrat rounded out the top six.

Big surf expected for the start of the Rip Curl Bells Beach Classic, forecasts say double over head, and because of that, Slater says he’s in, stay tuned for results.

Happy Easter, Fig over and out.

RICK FIGNETTI is a 10-time West Coast champion and a longtime KROQ-FM surfologist. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.