Local students excel at Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles

STUDENTS from Surf Coast Secondary College and Saint Ignatius College in Drysdale have excelled at the 2022 Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles, finishing in the finals of various divisional finals.

Held at North Stradbroke Island in Queensland, the annual surfing extravaganza gathered top surfers from across the country who competed in individual, team and school divisions.

While no individual Australian Titles were taken home by a Victorian in 2022, the states best took home a win in the tag team division and a range of placings in several school division finals.

Surf Coast Secondary College pair Emily McGettigan (state co-captain) and Juliet Muscroft secured the best result for a school’s duo, finishing second to Sienna Catholic College, Queensland in the U/19 Girls MR Shield division.

Co-captain Emily McGettigan said the finals finish was an added bonus to what was an enjoyable week with the state team.

“The conditions were really challenging all week; however Juliet and I went out there with a go out and have fun mindset which took plenty of pressure off,” she said.

“We were sitting in fourth, but we were the first team to change surfers in the tag which made us feel like we had an advantage with nine minutes remaining.

“I managed to get a few waves which pushed us up to second overall which was great.

“It was definitely one of the most memorable moments of Aussies sharing the final with one of my best friends and the result was a bonus.”

McGettigan also was able to form a strong combination with Sandy Point surfer Eva Bassed to finish fourth in the U/19 Girls Allstars division.

Putting on a brave display throughout the event, McGettigan’s co-captain in St Ignatius College dynamo Jack Bassett led from the front and also punched a ticket to two teams’ finals.

Alongside younger brother Max, the pair battled the tricky conditions to come away with a fourth place in the U/19 Boys MR Shield division, while Bassett and Peninsula star Willem Watson also had a podium finish in the U/19 Boys Allstars division.

Topping it off for the Bassett brothers was a second finals berth for younger brother Max who finished with a fourth place alongside Foster Secondary College surfer Jarrah Cicero in the U/16 Boys Allstars division.

In the end, Victoria came away with an overall third placing and a solid foundation to build on for 2023 edition of the titles.

For full results, head to australianjuniorsurfingtitles.com