10/14/2025
Our newest nomination.
It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate Dr. Ty Roach for induction into the National Surfing/Wrestling Iron Man Hall of Fame. I have had the privilege of knowing Ty for more than three decades, beginning when he was just four years old and joined our Tang Soo Do class alongside his mother. Even at that young age, Ty displayed a rare combination of focus, discipline, and competitive spirit, qualities that have only grown stronger over the years.
Thirty-five years later, I had the honor of awarding Ty his Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, alongside our head instructor and my close friend, Bobby Webb. In that moment, I was reminded of the countless hours of dedication Ty has given not only to martial arts, but to every athletic and academic pursuit he has undertaken. As a fellow wrestler, I have long admired his high school and collegiate wrestling achievements, and I was proud to nominate him for the West Carteret High School Athletic Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 2023.
What sets Ty apart is not only his incredible accomplishments, multiple national titles in both wrestling and surfing, a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, coaching and mentoring countless young athletes, but also his unwavering character and humility. Whether in the wrestling room, the surf lineup, the laboratory, or the community, Ty brings integrity, passion, and a tireless work ethic. He is a living example of what it means to excel at the highest levels of sport while giving back generously to others.
I can think of no one more deserving of this honor. Ty’s life and career embody the very spirit of the Iron Man, excellence across disciplines, a lifelong commitment to personal growth, and the ability to inspire those around him. Please see below for a detailed list of Ty’s accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Scott McMillan
Surfing accomplishments:
Ty Roach is a professional longboard surfer, surfboard designer, and surf coach. As a competitive surfer Ty has won two National championships, and four consecutive East Coast Longboard championships along with numerous professional level surfing titles and was the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America highest rated rookie. While in Graduate school Ty not only won an individual NSSA national title, but also lead the San Diego State Surf team to a team title as well. Ty is a current WSL competitor and is still chasing the dream of becoming a longboard world champion. He is currently ranked 5th in the WSL North American point standings.
Apart from his competitive accolades Ty is also a surf coach. Ty was a former coach of the East Coast Surfing Association (ESA) All-Star Team, and he has coached numerous surfers including the likes of National champions such as Parker Sawyer, and Kayla Beckmann Barnhart as well as US team members such as Cameron Richards, Daniel Glenn, and Keenan Lineback and Junior World Champion, Stevie Pittman. Ty also has his own signature line of surfboards, Roach Designs, which he produces in collaboration with legendary east coast shaper Bobby Webb.
Wrestling accomplishments:
As a wrestler, Ty Roach was a 3x all-conference, 3x all-region, 3x all-state, and All-American wrestler for West Carteret High School. In three years of a varsity wrestling career at West Carteret (2001-2004), Ty accumulated a record of 141 wins and only 23 losses. On top of being the first ever three-time 3A Eastern Conference champion, Ty was also three-time regional champion, three-time All-State (4th 1st 2nd), a state champion, and All American. Ty placed fifth in the National Tournament as a senior. Ty was bestowed several awards during high school including Most Single Season Wins Award as a junior (55 wins), the prestigious Gordy Patrick Award for wrestling and West Carteret’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete as a senior. Ty was a team captain both junior and senior year, and he was also active in Student Government, FFA, and the West Carteret Power Lifting and Surf Teams.
After high school, Ty went on to wrestle on an NCAA Division I wrestling scholarship at North Carolina State University. While at NC State, Ty was a four-year varsity wrestler, during which time he was two-time Academic All-Conference and was awarded the NC State Top Scholar Athlete Award four times. While at NC State, Ty was also an AAUS National Champion in the Open Division. Ty triple-majored in Biology, Botany, and Chemistry, minored in Genetics, and graduated as the 2009 NC State University Valedictorian ( #1 in a class of 8,520). Since college, Ty has pursued a career as a professional surfer, winning 4 East Coast Titles and 2 Individual National Championships, all while completing his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. Ty has now returned to his alma mater where he is on staff as an assistant wrestling coach. And to top it all off, Ty was recently inducted into the West Carteret Athletic Hall of Fame in the class of 2023.
Community Activities:
Ty has been involved in numerous community outreach projects. Ty has helped lead youth surf clinics through the Boys and Girls Club, and he is also a volunteer with the Adaptive Surf Project, helping people of all abilities enjoy the sport of surfing. He has also been involved in several outreach projects for involving underrepresented groups in the sciences, and he has volunteered his time to judge high school and middle school science fairs. He has been involved in several outreach activities which aim to communicate science and its importance to the general public. Ty also remains active in the wrestling community, organizing and coaching wrestling clinics at numerous schools.
Additional Comments:
Overall, Ty Roach is an incredibly decorated competitive surfer and wrestler, as well as a wrestling and surfing coach, and he serves as a role model for young athletes setting an example of how to achieve athletic goals at the highest level while also having a commitment to academics and community.
Ty recently graduated with his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, and he is currently balancing a career as a professional surfer, a faculty member at Duke University, and the founder and CEO of his own coral reef restoration business (Coral Reef Arks). As a longboard surfer, Ty has been ranked as high as the top 20 in the world. As a scientist, his research focuses on merging concepts from physics, microbiology, and ecology to understand how bacterial and viral communities affect human and ecological health. Ty is a published author in the fields of theoretical physics, microbiology, and coral reef ecology, and he remains active in both the competitive surfing and wrestling communities. Ty is also a blackbelt in Tang Soo Do.
