Maui’s Young, Awad capture NSSA national championships
Trending
Special to The Maui News
Levi Young of Haiku and Kaden Awad of Paia won titles at the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Championships at Huntington Beach, Calif., on Thursday.
Young, a senior at King Kekaulike High School, captured two national titles: the Explorer Juniors (17 and under) and the Explorer Men. Award won the Explorer Menehune (12 and under) title.
"It was so amazing. So, so happy," Young said. "That was the goal this trip and I achieved it."
Young posted a score of 12.84 to edge California's Kyan Yang (12.70) in the four-surfer Explorer Juniors final. He had a score of 14.40 in winning the Explorer Men title.
Young last won an NSSA title in 2015, claiming the Explorer Super Groms (10 and under) crown.
"I've won it at the youngest division, and now I've won it at the oldest division. I'm so stoked on that," he said.
Awad won the Explorer Menehune crown with a score of 11.90, beating out Florida's Vance Weyandt (11.47).
Other Maui national placers included Nora Liotta, second in Explorer Women (all ages); Shia Boverman, fifth in Explorer Super Girls (12 and under), and Zolten Poulsen, sixth in Explorer Longboard (all ages).
The contest continues today with competition in the open divisions.