Margaret River Senior High School scores record 18th consecutive win at WA State School Surfing Titles

Margaret River Senior High School has triumphed at the State school surfing titles for the 18th year in a row. The unbeaten winning streak at Trigg Beach on Friday saw the latest contingent of high school surf stars fend off all comers in middling surf. Conditions weren’t in MRSHS’s favour, but the school still took charge in six of eight major divisions, losing out only in the bodyboarding. MRSHS shone through in the senior and junior boys and girls surfing, with a second MRSHS team runner-up in the junior boys. While Christ Church Grammar School and Prendiville Catholic College won the boys and girls senior bodyboarding, Olive Hardy and Indigo Dale flew the flag for the junior girls’ bodyboarders and Lenox Hayward and Kai Luttrell took out the junior boys’ bodyboard for Margaret River. It was an all-Capes affair in the senior boys surfing, with those accustomed to bigger surf finding the conditions tricky. Macklin Flynn and Cruz Sheridan came out on top for Margaret River, but were pushed all the way by brothers Otis and Remy North from Cape Naturaliste College with very little separating the teams when the final siren sounded. “The North boys were ripping and it’s always exciting to match up against them,” Flynn said. “I look forward to teaming up with Cruz over at Nationals this year.” Ruby Berry and Willow Hardy continued their school’s success in the senior girls final. Judges said the goofy footers were “always the team to beat” and brought extensive competition experience to the table when it mattered most. “Willow and I have competed against one another for years and it’s a nice change to surf with her rather than against her,” Berry said. “The school is really supportive of our surfing pursuits and it’s nice to know that we now get a chance to surf together at the national titles in Victoria.” Junior boys Fynn and Reef Lange took out the top prize for the junior boys ahead of schoolmates Ace Flynn and Sid Englert. Fynn Lange said he relished the chance to surf alongside his brother. “I missed out on the State team as an individual this year, so this win means a lot to me and I can’t wait to compete alongside my brother,” he said. Meanwhile, Olive Hardy and Mia Jacobs scored highlights in their junior girls final against Mandurah Catholic College’s Isla Wroth and Neco Higgins. While MRSHS scored the trophy in the junior boys’ bodyboard, Lenox Hayward admitted he didn’t own a bodyboard before the Trigg contest. In the junior girls, Olive Hardy said tips from her famed bodyboarder uncle Ryan Hardy came in handy for the showdown against St Mary’s Anglican School for Girls competitors Florence Shaw and Amber Freestone. “My uncle Ryan is an amazing bodyboarder and I guess he’s taught me a thing or two,” Hardy said. Surfing WA events manager Justin Majeks said the high school’s dominance was on show throughout the event, providing a similar outcome since surf contests dating back to 2006. “They have once again proven to be the best surfing school in WA,” he said. This year’s School Surfing Titles saw 51 regional and metropolitan high schools nominate close to 400 teams of surfers and bodyboarders, with 10 qualifying events held throughout WA leading to the weekend final. MRSHS champions would now represent the State at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles in Victoria later this year.