By SAMUEL CATHCART, staff reporter

The Central Washington University Wakeboarding team brought home its first national title over the Memorial Day weekend.

The 2013 USA Collegiate Wakeboard Nationals Finals were held at Riverview Park in  Shreveport, LA.

The Wildcats title represents a historic landmark for the school. The wake team became the first collegiate club sport at Central to win a national title.

“We knew we were capable of winning nationals, but we needed to focus and let our riding do the talking,” said Eddie Roberts, captain of the team.

The finals consisted of 12 teams with a total of 112 riders from all around the country. Each team consisted of four male riders, two female riders and one wakeskater. The competition had seven heats where riders from each division compete head-to-head.

Going into the final day Central had built up a comfortable 90-point lead. The Wildcats finished with 610 points, beating out Division I schools Florida Gulf Coast and Wisconsin, respectively, by over 100 points each.

Virginia Tech placed fourth and University of Florida finished fifth.

Central brought eight of their best riders. Freshmen rider Kyler Green helped the team secure the title by winning the Men’s A division.

“We have a solid team with a bunch of really good riders and I knew we stood a great chance to take the title,” says Green. “Everyone had to do exactly what they can do, right there at the same location, at the right second.

On the women’s side, Women’s A rider Chelsea Worland and B-rider Amanda Parker qualified for the semi-finals, but fell short of placing.

It took a complete team effort to bring home the title. Leading up to the event the team was able to practice together while juggling time between school work and time on the water.

“We only came here for one reason and that was to win and we did that as a team. That’s what’s most important to everybody,” said Green.

Central’s freshmen Kobly Blew had a strong performance at national as well. Finishing 3rd in the Men’s A division with a score of 72.33.

“It was a team effort,” Blew said. “That was the best part about the whole experience outside the competition and inside the competition.”