Photo by\u00a0Patrick McLaughlin<\/p>\n
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia, August 9.\u00a0THE\u00a0Monmouth County Chapter \u2013 representing a variety of Jersey Shore beaches \u2013 captured the 2014 Nautica United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships team title on Saturday, Aug. 9 in Virginia Beach, Va. The Monmouth County group defeated the LA County Surf Life Saving Association, who had captured the team title for the 27 previous years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it, a 27 year run from LA County? Half our team isn\u2019t even 27 years-old,\u201d said Monmouth County team captain Mike Tomaino. \u201cTo see this dream come true, with all the hard work, preparation and competition that Monmouth County lifeguards have done, it\u2019s an incredible feeling and satisfying conclusion to the season. But we already need to start looking toward next year, because LA County won\u2019t be satisfied with second place for long.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coaches are proud of all the Monmouth County competitors and lifeguards, even those who couldn\u2019t make it to Virginia Beach \u2013 they\u2019re all a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professional lifeguards from 64 USLA chapters around the country competed for individual and team honors in water and beach course events that challenge their lifesaving skills. Monmouth County finished with 1,217.348 team points, earning the Howard Lee Trophy. LA County Surf Life Saving Association finished second with 1,001.350. Smith Point took the B Division (chapters with 100 lifeguards or less) Title, earning the LACOLA Trophy with 371.62 points.<\/p>\n
Brian Murphy of LA County Surf Life Saving Association led all men in Open points scored with 84.875. Also from LA County was the Open women\u2019s points leader, Kelsey O\u2019Donnell with 95.9.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe level of athleticism and competition at Nationals gets better and better each year,\u201d said Ed Zebrowski, Competition Committee Chair for the USLA. \u201cAfter knocking on the door for so many years, it\u2019s great to see Monmouth County take the USLA title from the LA County Surf Life Saving Association. I\u2019m certain the East Coast \u2013 West Coast rivalry will continue in 2015; guards will continue to elevate their lifesaving skills for next year\u2019s Nationals in Daytona Beach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The final day of competition saw champions crowned in the 2K Beach Run, American Ironman\/Ironwoman, Run-Swim-Run, Surf Ski, Board Rescue, Landline, Run Relay and Taplin Relay. For more information and for full results from the 2014 Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships, please visit: www.nationalresults.usla.org.<\/p>\n
Although competition in Virginia Beach has come to an end, you can see more of the action next month. Celebrating 50 years of lifesaving, the USLA National Lifeguard Championships will air nationwide on Universal Sports Network on Monday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
Produced by Castle Media of Australia, the highlights show will showcase beach safety and the nation’s strongest waterfront first responders. Check local listings to find USN on your channel finder, or visit www.Universalsports.com.<\/p>\n
Open (1st through 3rd) and Age Group champions for each of Saturday\u2019s Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships events follow:<\/p>\n
AMERICAN IRONMAN:<\/strong> Competitors cover a 1,400 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, a solo surf boat and a beach sprint finish.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Matt Nunnally \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. AMERICAN IRONWOMAN:<\/strong> Competitors cover a 950 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg and a beach sprint finish.<\/p>\n Open Women\u2019s<\/p>\n Jenna Solberg \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. 2K BEACH RUN:<\/strong> Competitors race 2,000 meters on the beach in two 1,000 meter legs as follows: on the starting signal, competitors race along the left side of the lane to round the turning pole 1,000 meters distant, and return 1,000 meters toward the starting pole, then race to cross the finish line. The finish is judged on the competitor\u2019s chest crossing the finish line. Competitors must finish on their feet in an upright position.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Zachary Krause \u2013 Suffolk, N.Y. Paige Duca \u2013 Hampton Lifeguard Association, N.Y. Michael Barrett \u2013 Ocean County, N.J. Amie Hufton \u2013 Galveston Lifesaving Association, Texas David Dierstein \u2013 Virginia Beach Lifesaving Association, Va. Sylvia Wolff \u2013 Corolla Ocean Rescue, N.C. Jeffrey Lewis \u2013 Galveston Lifesaving Association, Texas Jennifer Cawthern \u2013 Ocean City, Md. Craig Brierley \u2013 Hampton Lifeguard Association, N.Y. Katie McCully \u2013 Cape Cod, Mass. Charlie Lydecker \u2013 Smith Point, N.Y. Ann Finley \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. Gregory Johnson \u2013 Cape Cod, Mass. Janet Carbin \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Eldin Onsgard \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. Susan Wallis \u2013 Jax Beach, Fla. Rick Stimpson \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Louis Dwyer \u2013 South Jersey, N.J.<\/p>\n BOARD RESCUE:<\/strong> One member of the team swims 120 meters (approx.) to a designated buoy, signals and waits to be picked up by the second member of the team on a board. The both paddle to shore and cross the finish line on the beach with the board. Competitors must start from the correct allotted position. Competitors swimming to and signaling from the wrong buoy shall be disqualified.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Brian Murphy & Kevin Fink \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association & Long Beach Lifeguard Association, Calif. Coral Kemp \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. LANDLINE:<\/strong> This event consists of four competitors: one victim, one landline swimmer and two landline pullers. Each team will be assigned to a lane and corresponding flag buoy by random draw immediately before the heat. Heats will start, the landline swimmer with the shoulder strap or harness already on, swims in the assigned lane to the victim. Only the landline pullers may feed line to the swimmer. When the swimmer reaches the victim, the swimmer raises one arm in the air as a sign to the pullers to commence pulling. The victim must hold onto the rescue can with both hands at all times and may kick. Upon signal from the swimmer, the pullers pull victim and swimmer to the beach. Pulling area is restricted to the assigned lane and may be no greater than 25 meters long.<\/p>\n Open<\/p>\n Phil Cabasino, Tim Cabasino, James Canner & PJ Gillespie \u2013 Long Beach, N.Y. BEACH RELAY:<\/strong> Teams of four individuals compete in a baton relay fashioned over a 90 meter course. To start, two competitors take position in the assigned lane at each end of the course. After the start, each competitor completes a leg of the course with a baton held in either hand and passes the baton at the conclusion of the first, second and third leg to the next runner. All competitors shall finish their leg of the event on their feet and in an upright position.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Jonathan Cuomo, Garrett Thibodeau, Charles Appel & Matt Messina \u2013 Smith Point, N.Y. Anne Skimmons, Kristen Ditommaso, Sarah George & Carolyn Fittin \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. RUN-SWIM-RUN:<\/strong> From the start line, competitors run to pass around the turning flag and enter the water to swim out to and around the buoys. Competitors swim back to the beach to again run around the turning flag before running to the finish line.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Pat Kilgallen \u2013 Riis Park, N.Y. Hannah Elliott \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Corey McMeeking \u2013 Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Fla. Jenna Parker \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Chris Egan \u2013 California State Lifeguard Association, Calif. Sylvia Wolff \u2013 Corolla Ocean Rescue, N.C. Matt Nunnally \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Michelle Davidson \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Petko Prachtakov \u2013 Hollywood Beach, Calif. Katie McCully \u2013 Cape Cod, Mass. Charlie Lydecker \u2013 Smith Point, N.Y. Ann Finley \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. John Forrester \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Janet Carbin \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Jack Martin \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J. Shannon Sullivan \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. Ed Heinrich \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. James Somers \u2013 Monmouth County, N,J,<\/p>\n SURF SKI:<\/strong> Competitors steady their skis in line in knee-deep water about 1.5 meters apart. Competitors paddle their skis around the apex course marked by three buoys in a clockwise direction and return to finish when any part of the ski crosses the in-water finish line-ridden, gripped or carried by the competitor. Competitors may lose contact with their ski without necessarily being disqualified.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Oliver Puddick \u2013 Destin, Fla. Alexandra Ferguson – Canada TAPLIN RELAY:<\/strong> Teams of four competitors (one swimmer, one board paddler, one surf skier and one runner) cover the approximately 1,400 meter course in a sequence of legs determined by draw at the start of each competition. The run leg is always the final leg. If the ski leg is first, competitors shall start with a typical in-water start.<\/p>\n Open Men\u2019s<\/p>\n Rich Sprout, Chris Egan, Shane Scoggins & Collin Baratte \u2013 California State Lifeguard Association, Calif. Tandis Morgan, Coral Kemp, Jenna Solberg & Kelsey O\u2019Donnell \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif. The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Photo by\u00a0Patrick McLaughlin VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia, August 9.\u00a0THE\u00a0Monmouth County Chapter \u2013 representing a variety of Jersey Shore beaches \u2013 captured the 2014 Nautica United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":104906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[54077,42370],"class_list":["post-104903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-usa","tag-2014-usa-swimming-long-course-nationals","tag-lifeguards"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n
\nJeff Hart \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
\nRyan Matthews \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.<\/p>\n
\nCaren Guyett \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J.
\nCoral Kemp \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.<\/p>\n
\nPat Fannon \u2013 Jones Beach State Park, N.Y.
\nAnthony Colasurdo \u2013 Ocean County, N.J.
\nOpen Women\u2019s<\/p>\n
\nSarah George \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J.
\nJenna Parker \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J.
\nMen\u2019s 30-34<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 30-34<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 35-39<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 35-39<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 40-44<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 40-44<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 45-49<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 45-49<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 50-54<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 50-54<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 55-59<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 55-59<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 60-64<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 60-64<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 65-69<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 70+<\/p>\n
\nThomas O\u2019Neill & Brian O\u2019Neill \u2013 Riis Park, N.Y.
\nCooper Halligan & Oliver Puddick \u2013 Destin, Fla.
\nOpen Women\u2019s<\/p>\n
\nKelsey O\u2019Donnell \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
\nHannah Elliott \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J.<\/p>\n
\nSteve Conrad, Lindsey Gerkens Lynskey, Hunter Hay & Maurice Peacock \u2013 Wrightsville Beach, N.C.
\nCooper Halligan, Cameron Prosser, Oliver Puddick & Chris Wise \u2013 Destin, Fla.<\/p>\n
\nYoucef Belrachid, Shane Neumann, Justyn Zangwill & Charles Swartz \u2013 Ocean City, Md.
\nNiccolas Albert, Jeff Munro, James Hagen & Michael Katz \u2013 Sussex County, Del.
\nOpen Women\u2019s<\/p>\n
\nErin Ricker, Josie Nixon, Jaclyn Coveleski & Jane Roope \u2013 Sussex County, Del.
\nChrista Narus, Sandi Woodhead, Nicole Lomeli & Brianne Jackolski \u2013 Smith Point, N.Y.<\/p>\n
\nThomas O\u2019Neill \u2013 Riis Park, N.Y.
\nPatrick Fink \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
\nOpen Women\u2019s<\/p>\n
\nKendall Towe \u2013 Sussex County, Del.
\nHallie Petersohn \u2013 Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association, Fla.
\nMen\u2019s 30-34<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 30-34<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 35-39<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 35-39<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 40-44<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 40-44<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 45-49<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 45-49<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 50-54<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 50-54<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 55-59<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 55-59<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 60-64<\/p>\n
\nWomen\u2019s 60-64<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 65-69<\/p>\n
\nMen\u2019s 70+<\/p>\n
\nRich Sprout \u2013 California State Lifeguard Association, Calif.
\nCooper Halligan \u2013 Destin, Fla.
\nOpen Women\u2019s<\/p>\n
\nTandis Morgan \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
\nMadison Quinn \u2013 Destin, Fla.<\/p>\n
\nBrian Murphy, Tim Burdiak, Jeff Hart & Brandon Henry-Snell \u2013 LA County Surf Life Saving Association, Calif.
\nOliver Puddick, Bryce Orchard, Cameron Prosser & Taylor Hardy \u2013 Destin, Fla.
\nOpen Women\u2019s<\/p>\n
\nCaren Guyett, Jennifer Noonan, Annie Fittin & Sarah George \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J.
\nShelley Griffith, Hannah Elliott, Hayley Masi & Jennifer Rau \u2013 Monmouth County, N.J.<\/p>\n