Catnip Award #4…Surf Wins National Title

It is that time of year when the Saddleback sports information department produces the top-10 high points in Saddleback College athletics for the calendar year.  Catnip Award No. 4 for 2022 goes to – Surf Wins National Title

The Saddleback College Surf Team captured the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) college national championship in June at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.  It was the third NSSA national title for the school and the first since 2014.

Saddleback entered as one of the favorites after finishing third in the state at the NSSA State Championships in March.  The Bobcats ended up hitting their stride at the right time, rolling to a national title.  Saddleback scored 111 points to cruise to an easy win against 12 other college programs.  Rounding out the top-5 was Point Loma Nazarene University-A (76), UC San Diego (70), University of North Florida (66) and Westcliff University (55).

Saddleback had four surfers finish in the top six at the meet with Kai McPhillips leading the way with a second place finish (13.77).  Curran Dand finished fourth overall (12.87), Ethan Mudge was fifth (12.80) and Lucas Taub was sixth (11.13).  Mudge also finished second overall in the college longboard competition (16.93).

National Finals Results:

1. Saddleback College 111
   2. Point Loma Nazarene University-A 76
   3. UC San Diego 70
   4. University of North Florida 66
   5. Westcliff University 55
   6. San Diego State University 41
   7. Cal State San Marcos 37
   8. Point Loma Nazarene University-B 33
   9. Brigham Young University 28
   10. Pepperdine University 22
   11. University of Central Florida 21
   12. Flagler College 20
   13. USC 19

Catnip Awards Recap:

#10 -- #400

#9 -- Volleyball Stuns IVC

#8 -- Saddleback Adds Men's Soccer

#7 -- Women's Water Polo Ends Drought

#6 -- The Baseball Season

#5 -- Men's Golf Second at State