Monday, June 18, 2012

For the second consecutive year, the University of North Carolina Wilmington Surf Team has placed third at the 2012 NSSA National Interscholastic Championships held Saturday 17 at Dana Point, Calif. Team member Tony Silvagni also placed first in the collegiate longboarding category.

The UNCW team was the highest placed collegiate team from the East Coast at the championships. The 2012 competition marks the fourth straight time placing in the top four at the championships.

Competition scores are based on individual surfers that collect points for the team in their individual categories.

Coach Dylan McNamara said the surf team is comprised of a broad mix of students - future entrepreneurs, scientists and creative writers. While the team had its heart set on winning first place, he said they should be proud of their continued standing as one of the best surf teams in the country.

"As coach of the surf team I am very proud of our teams performance at Nationals this year. As a professor I am even more proud that our team GPA is 3.0. These students are true scholar athletes," said McNamara.

The UNCW team competed against teams form San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, Florida Institute of Technology, Mira Costa, University of Central Florida, Saddleback, Flagler, UC San Diego, University of North Florida, Cal State San Marcus, UCLA, USD and USC.

The UNCW Surf Team was able to compete thanks to support from the community. Sponsors include Cape Fear Sports Enhancement, Fuzzy Peach Yogurt Bar, Hang Ten Grill, Katy's Grill and Bar, Hope From Helen, Local-Sessions Surf Magazine, Margy Merkle Niel, Quiksilver, The Mermaid Castle, Ryan Perez Muse-ack, South End Surf Shop, Tony Silvagni Surf School, Tower 7 Baja Mex and K38 Baja Grill, UNC Wilmington, Vestal, WBlivesurf.com, Wilmington Oral Surgery and Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association.

CBS Sports Network will show the competition on Friday, July 13 at 9 p.m. and show highlights on Sunday, August 12 at 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.cbssportsnetwork.com. For Time Warner customers in Wilmington, CBS Sports is channel 537 and 1537(HD).

Media Contact:

William Davis, UNCW University Relations, 910-962-2654 or davisw@uncw.edu