Briefs: Thurston Middle School second in surfing competition

The Thurston Middle School surf team competed at Event No. 2 of the Scholastic Surf Series at Oceanside Harbor’s South Jetty. Thurston finished in second place among seven teams, trailing only San Clemente Shorecliffs in both the Division 1 and 2 team standings.

Sixteen Thurston athletes reached the finals as the program achieved its best result at the competition. In Division 2, Val Allen won the Boys’ Shortboard division, Destiny Thompson Girls’ Shortboard, and Cici Stewart Girls’ Longboard.

The team is coached by Jeff Booth and Bobby Lockhart.

Below are finishes for Thurston athletes in each division.

Division 1

Boys’ Shortboard: Nolan Rodgers, second; Kiko Nelson, third; Trey Lockhart, fourth; Travis Booth, sixth.

Girls’ Shortboard: Kayla Coscino, second; Claire Kelly, fourth; Kelly Smith, fifth.

Girls’ Longboard: Liv Stokes, second; Lola Fisher, sixth.

Coed Bodyboard: Cole Fink, fifth.

Division 2

Boys’ Shortboard: Val Allen, first; Tyson Lockhart, second.

Boys’ Longboard: Gaal Shonfeld, fourth.

Girls’ Shortboard: Destiny Thompson, first; Grace Fink, second.

Girls’ Longboard: Cici Stewart, first.

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Team USA takes series from Italy

The USA Water Polo Men’s National Team and Italy completed their three-game exhibition series Sunday with Team USA taking a 9-7 victory at the Uytengsu Aquatic Center at USC.

Team USA, which included Nolan McConnell of Laguna Beach, took the series with a 2-0-1 record. In the opening match of the series, the teams played to a 10-10 draw on Dec. 28 at Newport Harbor High, and Team USA won the second meeting, 11-10, at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Dec. 30.

McConnell also has been named to the Red Team roster for the USA Water Polo Men’s National League which starts Saturday at Segerstrom High in Santa Ana. Three USA teams — Red, White, and Blue, will be joined by four club teams — the New York Athletic Club, the Olympic Club, International Water Polo Club and Alumni Water Polo Club, in National League competition.

For more information on the National League including schedules and competition locations, visit https://www.usawaterpolo.org.

— From staff reports