Collins the ‘GOAT’ Leads Warriors to First State Title

"Our kids are calling him the 'GOAT' of college surfing, and so far he's living up to it. Out of the last four events, he's won two of them and has consistently been one of the toughest surfers to have in a heat." — Surf Head Coach Kyle Rouse.

By Brandon Petersen

Westcliff freshman Jordy Collins is a world-class surfer. 

Westcliff Surf is rapidly becoming a world-class program. 

Collins and the Warriors made history last weekend in Huntington Beach, where Westcliff collected its first-ever NSSA California state championship.

Collins became Westcliff's first individual state champion, and it was his final round in which he needed a 6.2 or higher that won it all. 

With everyone walking out of the water, the NSSA announced a 6.63 for Collins, and the party was on. 

Collins got the GOAT treatment as his teammates carried him on their shoulders to the winner's circle, where both he and the Warriors were crowned California's best. 

"I don't think we've ever been so excited to chair someone up the beach," Westcliff assistant coach Chelsea Ehlen said. 

Said Rouse: "When he is still in a contest, we know special things can happen, and that we're never out of it.

"He's proved time and time again that he can get any score he needs, and sometimes even when his back is against the wall with limited time. Jordy was the most consistent surfer in the men's shortboard category. He didn't have huge heats every time, but surfed smart, strategic, and consistent, which led to his final appearance."

"Smart, strategic and consistent" was the Warriors' M.O. heading into the state finals. 

"By small and simple means are great things brought to pass." — Ehlen on Westcliff's theme in winning the championship. 

At practice the day before state championships began, WSL announcer Mitchell Salazar had some great advice for the Warriors. Namely, as long as they were catching tons of waves and bettering their scores each wave, it would put Westcliff in a great position. 

"That's what the team executed so well," Ehlen said. "We didn't necessarily win every heat, but we were consistent."

On the men's side, every surfer made it through the first two rounds with ease before the struggle began in Round 3. 

"Team surfing is all about consistency, and getting points anywhere you can," Rouse said. "The breakdown of our points from the men's side just shows how important each surfer is."

Here's how the men's side broke down in terms of point-scoring:

Shortboard:

Collins — 27 points

Eduardo Galindo — 13 points

Jack Hopkins — 13 points

Jake Shiroke — 12 points

Lucas Taub — 12 points

Cole Futak — 10 points

Longboard:

Kylan Crapenhoft — 5 points 

The Warrior men lost five surfers in Round 3 alone as conditions worsened just south of Surf City's pier. 

Collins was the lone survivor, taking first with heats of 7.6 and 7.5.

Going into the finals, Westcliff held a 87-81 lead over Point Loma with Collins, Silke Martinez and Sofia Freyre remaining. 

Point Loma, meanwhile, had five athletes left.

In the men's quarterfinal, Collins finished second to a Point Loma surfer, but eliminated another. 

However, on the women's side, Martinez and Freyre took out two Point Loma surfers, leaving Westcliff with a one surfer advantage heading into the repercharge rounds. 

"The strength we have on the women's side is that we have three surfers (Martinez, Freyre & Ninon Mattei) who can absolutely rip in different conditions," Rouse said. "It's almost surprising when they're not in the final."

The Warriors needed seven points to beat Point Loma in the final round. The women finished fifth and sixth overall, good for three of those points.

Which left Collins the last Westcliff surfer standing in a final that included Point Loma's Ethan Mudge and Jackson Butler.

UC Santa Cruz surfer Alex Fry held the lead until the closing seconds when Collins secured his 6.63 to win.

While Fry caught nine waves in the final for a 12.40 combined score, Collins caught just three waves but finished with a 12.96 combined. 

Collins told Eye On Surfing: "The waves in the final were not easy, but contestable. I was able to get the late score that I needed and got the win."

Mudge finished with a 10.87 and Butler had an 8.43. 

Rouse, Ehlen and Collins took the NSSA stage afterward to talk about Westcliff's one-of-a-kind program.

Ehlen received a round of applause when she talked about how Westcliff allows surfers to pursue both their educational and pro surfing dreams through athletic scholarships.

Collins also talked about the unique opportunity all Warrior surfers share. 

"Westcliff is the only university right now offering full ride scholarships for surfing and it's great to see that come to fruition," Collins said. "They are putting a focus into the sport and it's helping us get through school. 

"A win like this helps show that it's all worth it."

Said Rouse afterward: "It feels awesome to (win a state championship) so quickly. (Ehlen and I) talk all the time about those initial meetings we had together discussing the direction we wanted to go with this and it's incredible to see it play out in front of our eyes with this group. 

"We both knew it was possible because of the vision not only we had, but Shawn Harris had as well, to turn this into what it has become. I'm just so grateful and excited for the current group, and last year's group, who really laid the foundation for us to be this successful this season."

Rouse says he is most proud of the surf team's progress in the classroom. Westcliff Surf has the second highest collective GPA in the entire athletic department. 

The program has also served as an example to other universities, where Rouse says surf scholarships are finally becoming a reality. 

One of the best stories coming out of the weekend was on the women's side, where Mattei actually recommended to the coaching staff that Freyre surf, rather than herself. 

Freyre is a Huntington Beach native and an incredibly talented surfer, and the veteran Mattei recognized her teammate gave the Warriors the best chance to win it all in Surf City. 

That type of sacrifice is not only "smart and strategic," but selfless, and speaks volumes of Mattei's character. 

"I have to give a special shout-out to Ninon, our OG surfer, for recommending we put in Sofia over herself," Ehlen said. "She is such a team player and we would not have the championship without her help in pioneering this program."

Ehlen says the international surfers especially sacrifice a great deal to be a part of Westcliff Surf.

"I've learned about their struggles, their hardships, their personal lives," Ehlen said. "It has not been easy for a lot of them, but winning this championship I think has given us a whole new energy that makes the challenges worth it."

In June, the Warriors will descend upon Salt Creek for the NSSA Nationals. 

A year ago, Westcliff finished fifth overall. 

This year the Warriors carry the state championship with them into competition. 

"Nationals is always fun," Rouse said. "And honestly, anytime we're surfing Salt Creek, we have a shot at it. 

"We have several surfers who grew up surfing Salt Creek and they know it very well. The team is already talking about wanting to carry the success we had this weekend into Nationals, and now that we have some more experience winning big heats, it'll be fun to see the team show up in that big environment."

Rouse said the usual suspects will be Westcliff's biggest rivals at Nationals: Point Loma, UCSD, Santa Cruz and Saddleback.

The University of North Florida and the University of Central Florida should be tough to beat as well. 

"Either way, it's Nationals," Rouse said. "And anything can happen at Creek when the waves are good."