Skateboarding: Schmidt, Villani honored

Michael Schmidt of Costa Mesa Middle School and Franky Villani of Costa Mesa High were among those honored during the National Scholastic Skateboarding League awards banquet May 18.

The NSSL concluded its third season at Hurley’s corporate office in Costa Mesa with its annual dinner and fundraiser.

The students from Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine and San Clemente schools took home top honors in individual and overall standings accumulated over the past five months.

Schmidt was the top skater in the overall standings for middle school.

He was No. 2 in the street division. Dwyer won the overall team title.

Villani was third overall for high school and third in the street standings.

Northwood was the overall team champion in the high school division.

Over 200 skaters, family members, coaches, and various school officials were in attendance.

The crowd cheered for league members Jon Pena (Newport Harbor High) and Tristan Starr (Ensign Middle School), as both were acknowledged for top grade-point averages.

The skaters cheered on each team’s most improved and most valuable skaters. Edison High sophomore, Gage Boan, also received the league’s coveted character counts scholarship to Woodward West skate camp in Tehachapi for this summer.

Boan had a great night overall as the high school bowl skater champion.

The evening finished with the students skating Hurley’s private skatepark.

The NSSL will start its 2013 season in January.

Until then, summer skate camps, several field trips, and summer fundraisers will take place throughout the remainder of the year for NSSL.

— Reader submission