NOLAN LUMBY / CONTRIBUTOR

The water is getting colder, but that hasn’t slowed down  the University of San Diego club  surf team. Over two consecutive weekends, the Toreros achieved strong individual results at the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s (NSSA) college meets held at Black’s Beach and Huntington Beach. The team competed in the standard NSSA format, where schools enter multiple athletes in each division.

USD opened the competition at Black’s Beach, where USD sophomore Sophie Whelan delivered one of the program’s strongest early-season performances.

  Competing in the Women’s Shortboard division, Whelan advanced through her first two rounds with scores of 10.77 and 11.17, finishing second in both. Whelan  reached the semifinal round and placed third with a score of 7.44, ultimately ending the event in ninth overall. 

  “It’s always awesome to get through a couple of rounds,” Whelan said.“Especially here, in San Diego, with a lot of friends there to support.” 

 Whelan recalled her performance, leaving some insight into 2026. 

   “The team is super stoked, we are headed up to Santa Cruz next semester, and that is always one of the best competitions of the year,” Whelan said.

The following weekend at Huntington Beach, USD achieved its highest finish in the College Longboard division, where Alex Roberts placed seventh overall. 

  In his opening heat on Sunday, Roberts scored a 9.33 and remained competitive throughout each round he surfed. His performance established a benchmark for USD in the early part of the longboard season, which is known for its tight scoring margins and diverse styles.

  In the Men’s Shortboard competition  at  Huntington, USD encountered one of the most  competitive  and fast-paced divisions of the  fall season.     

 The bracket featured strong lineups from several schools, making heats where advancing often  hinged  on a single scoring ride or a last-minute exchange. For USD, this event served more as an early-season test of pace and positioning rather than a results-oriented outing, providing clear insight into the  level  of urgency needed deep in the NSSA shortboard rounds. Across both events, the Toreros produced several steady  individual performances that set a foundation for the upcoming winter stretch of the NSSA college schedule.

  The USD  surf team is preparing for the next event on the NSSA calendar, which  will take place in Huntington Beach. While early-season results provide a glimpse into the team’s competitive standing, the surf team plays a more significant role on campus than just its scores.    

  USD senior Logan DePaul offered an outside perspective. 

  “I have some friends on the team, and from what I’ve seen, no other club on campus brings as much excitement and energy,” DePaul said “It is also a great way to meet people from all over with similar hobbies.” 

  The team attracts students from various academic backgrounds and class years, fostering connections through early-morning practices, travel weekends, and shared experiences in the water. In this way, the surf team has become both an athletic outlet and a close-knit community that embodies the school’s coastal identity many students associate with USD.

USD’s surf team competes in the NSSA tournament. Photo courtesy of @cameronsphoto/Instagram