Braeden Kopec Wins First Collegiate Surf Title for Stetson

Local resident Braeden Kopec recently provided Stetson University with its first collegiate surfing title in the school’s history. The NSSA East Coast Collegiate Surfing Championships were held in New Smyrna Beach in early May. Kopec is a two-time NSSA National Champion, and now an 11-time east coast NSSA Champion with his recent win bringing his overall championship event titles count to 21. This is his first collegiate competitive year and college championship title. During his freshman year he became the president of Stetson’s Surf Club and relaunched the school’s first Competition Team after several decades of dormancy. He was named captain of the team and coached the members during the season at several events. Braeden was admitted to the school in the Honors Program and is a Presidential Fellow at Stetson. He is pursuing a double major studying Business Administration and Professional Sales with a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Strong Finish for Stetson at NSSA Championships

Although the team was severely shorthanded for the event, having only 3 of its needed 7 members present, they were still able to make a strong presence out of 13 teams and only missed making it onto the podium as a team by a few points. “We had a great season and we put Stetson on the map for collegiate competitive surfing. I’m really proud of the club and team for accomplishing so much over the past several months. We had a few missing team members at the event due to travel and injury but with first year competitor Camden Claudio and longtime competitor Maddie Lavender, who made it to the semi-finals on the women’s side of the event, the team did exceptional!” said Kopec.

Kopec Secures Spot in USA Surfing Championships

Kopec’s top score averaged a 7.53 (out of a possible 10) and an impressive nine out of the top ten scores of the event on the men’s side were by the Ponce Inlet surfer. “I’ve competed at New Smyrna since I was probably 5 years old, and I live right on the other side of the inlet, it’s sort of my second home break, I know the wave well there so it was fun to compete there now in my college years.”, said Braeden. “I’m really looking forward to the next three years for the club and team while I’m at Stetson, we’re going to be doing great things in the community and we are going to continue to have success at events.”, he continued.

Kopec’s recent win earned him an invite to two upcoming national events being held in California, the NSSA College National Championships held at Salt Creek and to the USA Surfing National Championships in Oceanside. For more on Braeden follow him on Instagram: @braedenkopec