Ocean Lipstein and Zolten Poulsen were selected as the Surfers of the Year by the Maui Interscholastic League coaches, and Andy Claydon was picked as Coach of the Year.

Lipstein and Poulsen have a few things in common. Both live on Maui’s westside and compete in multiple disciplines. They are both a part of the Maui Mentors youth surf team, are goofy-footers and were the scoring leaders of their MIL champion teams.

But the similarities end there as Lipstein is just starting her high school career while Poulsen just ended his.

Lipstein, a Lahainaluna freshman, was totally surprised about being selected.

“That’s really cool. I’m really grateful,” she said. “It was really fun learning that sort of (high school) competition.”

Lipstein was a MIL All-Star in all three disciplines. Lipstein claimed three of the four regular season shortboard contests, and was a fifth-place medalist at the inaugural Hawaii High School Activities State Surfing Championship at Hookipa Beach Park.

She was one of six girls to qualify for all three disciplines at state. However, she wasn’t satisfied with her overall state performance.

“I could have done a bit better. That was fun, but it was tiring because I had a lot of heats and the shortboard was at the end of the day, and that’s the one I was focusing on,” Lipstein said. “So I was like really, really tired, and I feel like I could have done better.”

Lipstein was the MIL champion in bodyboard and the runner-up in longboard. Lipstein wasn’t even the No. 1 longboarder for the MIL champion Lady Lunas. Gianna Pogni, a senior, who won two of the regular season longboard contests, was also an All-Star and the team captain for the Lunas.

The other girls All-Stars are Sloane Jucker of Maui Prep, the MIL shortboard champion and MIL surfer of the year in 2025; Lila Sloan of Maui Christian, the MIL longboard winner; and Hi’ipoi Starbuck of Kamehameha Maui, who was fourth in the state in bodyboard.

Poulsen, a Maui Prep senior, was part of a strong contingent of MIL shortboard All-Stars. MIL shortboarders took four of the six spots in the state finals including state champion Kahlil Pineres-Schooley of Seabury Hall.

Poulsen also was a state medalist in longboard and the only boy to medal in two divisions. During the season, Poulsen was a model of consistency, winning three of four regular season shortboard titles as well as two longboard crowns.

For Poulsen, this marked the end of a stellar MIL career. He was also voted MIL Surfer of the Year as a sophomore.

The low-key Poulsen cracked a smile after hearing he was selected again.

“That’s so sick,” he said. “Beyond stoked, such an honor. The season was great for my final year of high school and we had a really good team, really good coaches. It was really nice to see the support building and the just the whole system coming together, and the other islands getting into it, and just happy to be a part of it.”

Standing out this season for Poulsen was winning the MIL team title and competing in the first-ever state competition.

“As a team, to be able to connect with those freshmen (teammates) who I’ve surfed with my whole life was a highlight,” he said. “State was super cool. State was a lot more than I expected it to be with the organization, cameras and broadcasting, just cool to be a part of it.”

The other shortboard All-Stars are Pineres-Schooley, Chase Burnes of King Kekaulike and Matias Banto of Lahainaluna, who were fourth and fifth at state.

The longboard All-Stars are Poulsen and Bode Davis of Kulanihakoi, who were third and fourth at state.

The bodyboard All-Stars are MIL champion Rex Ang of Baldwin and Makoa Kapuniai of King Kekaulike, who was sixth at state.

Claydon just completed his sixth season as Lahainaluna coach. He also coached the Lunas when surfing was a club sport.

“It’s really humbling because our coaches in the MIL are top-notch,” Claydon said. “My coaches, like Lara (Claydon) and Zane Schweitzer, make me look good. Our coaching staff is stacked. Just honored to be part of this whole thing.”

BOYS SURFER OF THE YEAR

Zolten Poulsen, senior, Maui Prep

GIRLS SURFER OF THE Year

Ocean Lipstein, freshman, Lahainaluna

MIL ALL-STARS

Chase Burnes, senior, King Kekaulike, shortboard

Bode Davis, freshmen, Kulanihakoi, longboard

Hii’ipoi Starbuck, sophomore, Kamehameha Maui, bodyboard

Kahlil Pineres-Schooley, sophomore, Seabury Hall, shortboard

Gianna Pogni, senior, Lahainaluna, longboard

Lila Sloan, senior, Maui Christian, shortboard and longboard

Makoa Kapuniai, junior, King Kekaulike, bodyboard

Matias Banto, freshman, Lahainaluna, shortboard

Ocean Lipstein, freshman, Lahainaluna, shortboard, longboard

and bodyboard

Rexford Ang, senior, Baldwin, bodyboard

Zolten Poulsen, senior Maui Prep, shortboard, longboard

and bodyboard

Sloane Jucker, senior, Maui Prep, shortboard

COACH OF THE YEAR

Andy Claydon, Lahainaluna