Wilson, Gilchrist sparkle in Classic

NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Harbor High’s Chase Wilson and Kaleigh Gilchrist were among the local winners Sunday at 56th Street in the Newport Classic, an event in its ninth year that raises funds for Newport Harbor’s surf team.

Wilson, who is a USA surf team member, won the high school division with an 8.6 average wave score, the top score of the day. Newport Harbor’s Victor Done had the second best score of the day at 7.7 and took second behind Wilson.

Chad LaBass, a Newport Harbor graduate, won the men’s open division.

Gilchrist, a Newport Harbor sophmore who is also a USA surf team member, won the women’s division.

Colin Moran, a TeWinkle Intermediate student and the youngest member on the USA surf team, won the middle-school division, averaging a 6.5 wave score.

Eric Vallely, also a Newport Harbor alumnus, took first place in the long board division.

— From staff reports