In 2025, Mater Dei brought in a new head coach for the surf team. Coach Brian Barsuglia was promoted to Head Coach in 2025 after the former coach had resigned from his position. With this change, Barsuglia aims to maximize the potential of the surf team after a challenging 2024-2025 season.
After becoming Head Coach, Barsuglia began planning out the strategies to get his surfers to fully show their potential when the season comes. Everything starts with a small step. The team has already started to practice and will continue the habit of weekly practice to gear up for the finale in January.
“We start in mid-September, [and] we’ll start surfing in the water,” Barsuglia said. “And then at the end of September, the competitions start. They practice once a week and compete once a week. Finals take place at the Huntington Beach Pier in January.”
Barsuglia has been a lifelong surfer and appreciates the company of other surfers. He considers parts of Southern California his favorite surf spots, and enjoys connecting with nature at sea.
“I’ve been surfing for most of my life,” Barsuglia said. “I have a love of the ocean, love of the water, and it’s something that I just enjoy doing and being a part of, and I love surfing out with other people.”
Consistent practice and dedication helps the athletes gain more experience in the sport. Junior Phoenix Dickinson explains how the team has helped her improve her surfing skills through communication and stress management.
“[The surf team] has helped me a lot more in the competition experience and communicating with my teammates,” Dickinson said. “It also helps manage stress when surfing because the team really helps boost my mentality.”
The Mater Dei surf team is made up of students with little to lots of experience. Everyone on the team helps one another and shares tips to create a functional team environment. Junior Diego Villa appreciates how his teammates are willing to help him.
“[My teammates and I] work together because when we practice, we watch each other ride waves and give each other tips on how to do better on them,” Villa said. “I didn’t know how to shortboard at first when I joined, but the team really helped me learn how to shortboard and [I] became a much better surfer, because everyone was really nice, and they really helped me by giving me tips.”
The Mater Dei surf team is all about teamwork, encouragement, and guidance from a professional coach. Brian Barsuglia has helped the Mater Dei Surf Team advance in skill and cooperation, passing down his knowledge to his students. Surfers express appreciation of his skilled mentoring. Surfing is not an easy sport, it takes a lot of skills and dedication. As new talents arrive, the Mater Dei Surf Team prepares to make the best of the upcoming season.
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