Pueo Surfing shines at HHSAA state contest

The atmosphere at Ho‘okipa Beach was electric, mirroring a professional WSL event with television cameras, extensive signage, and a full broadcast on OC16. Throughout the two-day contest, heat winners were treated to live beachside interviews, giving the student-athletes a true taste of the professional circuit.

The Maui Prep boys team entered the water with momentum, having qualified their entire roster following a dominant MIL team victory just one week prior. Zolten Poulsen (’26), Bodi Wheeler (’28), Seth Jucker (’29), and Tristan Richard (’29) represented the school among a competitive field of 87 shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard athletes from leagues across the state.

On the girls’ side, MIL champion Sloane Jucker (’26), Layla Merrill (’26), and Zoey Offergeld (’27) qualified by virtue of their standout performances in the individual MIL semifinals held earlier this season. All three surfers navigated the consistent, heavy swells with skill; Merrill (shortboard) and Offergeld (longboard) put up a strong fight before bowing out in the quarterfinal rounds.

Maui Prep’s depth was on full display as every surfer on the roster advanced at least as far as the quarterfinals. Tristan Richard and Seth Jucker showed great composure in their respective heats, with Jucker and Poulsen both pulling double duty by competing in both longboard and shortboard divisions. Zolten Poulsen distinguished himself as the only competitor in the entire state field to reach the finals in two different categories.

The finals on Saturday saw standout performances from the Pueo leaders. Sloane Jucker surfed her way to a silver medal in the girls' shortboard competition. Beyond her athletic prowess, she captured the attention of the OC16 commentating crew, who praised her poise and intellect during her multiple beachside interviews. Zolten Poulsen, after winning every one of his preliminary shortboard heats, ultimately finished sixth overall in shortboard and secured a third-place podium finish in longboard. Behind these strong individual efforts, the Maui Prep boys team claimed third place overall in the state, while the girls team finished in an impressive seventh place.