- September 16, 2024
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Braeden Kopec won two titles at the NSSA National Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach Beach, California, earlier this summer. That brought his total number of championship wins to 22.
Prior to that he was one of four surfers to represent Flagler Palm Coast High School at the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s national championships at Salt Creek Beach Park in Dana Point, California. As team captain, he helped his team place third out of 14 high school teams.
But just a few months ago, Kopec’s participation in national events seemd unlikely. After surfing two tournaments on consecutive weekends in February with increasing pain in his knee, an MRI revealed a torn ACL. Foregoing surgery, he underwent a daily regimen of physical therapy strength training over two and half months and was able to strengthen the leg to the point when his orthopedic surgeon cleared him to surf again. After a grueling stretch in California, he spent three weeks surfing and training in South Africa. Last month, he began his college career at Stetson University, which happens to be just 40 minutes from the waves.
Flagler Palm Coast’s boys and girls golf teams defeated rival Matanzas on Aug. 28. At Palm Harbor Golf Club, the FPC boys won 184-194 with Bulldogs Caleb Zarraonandia (42) and Drew Curley (43) leading the way. Trevor Challice (39) and Jacob Roster (46) led Matanzas.
At Cypress Knoll, FPC’s girls defeated the Pirates 210-218. Freshman Ivey Tsouklaris led the Bulldogs with a 44, but Matanzas senior Zoe Alred took medalist honors with a 43.
At Rivieria Country Club in Ormond Beach on Aug. 29, Isaac Baldwin shot 37 to lead Seabreeze to a 166-172 victory over Matanzas. The Sandcrabs’ other scorers were Austin Upchurch (43), Sam Garewal (43) and Shaan Garewal (44). Trevor Challice shot 39 for the Pirates, wile Jacob Roster shot a 41 and Gianni Cerbone carded a 44.
Matanzas’ Blaine Vogel placed eighth with a time of 17:41.15 at the DeLand Cross Country Invitational on Aug. 31. Seabreeze’s Hunter Shuler (18:20.65) placed 14th and Matanzas freshman Enzo McGovern (18:41.01) was 19th. The Pirates placed sixth, while Seabreeze was ninth among 20 teams.
Matanzas placed fifth in the girls race with Maria Phillips (22:14.98), Sara Van Buren (22:17.27) and Megan Rhee (22:18.52) fnishing together in 15th, 16th and 17th places.
Seabreeze graduates Latrae Bass and James Lyons were on the field for Johnson C. Smith in the Golden Bulls' 21-13 win over Tuskegee in the Boeing Red Tails Classic on Sept. 1 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game was televised by ESPNU. Lyons is a long snapper who trains with Dan Lundy's 4th Down University. Bass, a cornerback, had a pass breakup in the game.
Father Lopez's swim teams swept Trinity Prep and The Master's Academy on Aug. 29. The Lopez boys improved to 3-0, while the Lopez girls improved to 2-1.
Ryan Herdel won the 50 and 100 over both teams. Matt Alvarez won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke against Trinity. Nelanee Fulton, Zoee Fulton, Maya Khanna and Evie Kate Carnathan led the Green Wave girls.
