LA County Holds Off California State To Win Their 46th USLA National Championship

Courtesy: USLA

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2022) — LA County Surf Life Saving Association capped off a thrilling final day of competition by hoisting the coveted Howard Lee Trophy awarded to the 2022 Jersey Mike’s USLA National Champion in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, finishing with 1792.125 points. This is the 46^th time the team has won the title, and they have now won the overall team championship 33 out of the past 35 years the competition has taken place. California State Lifeguard Association put up a strong challenge, finishing in second place with 1366.503 points. Sussex County (Del.) rounded out the podium, finishing in third place.

“We have a very deep roster and the very talented athletes on the L.A. County Surf Lifesaving Association team battled hard every day and consistently brought their ‘A’ game,” said Jay Butki, President of the L.A. County Surf Lifesaving Association (LACoSLSA). “The California State Lifeguard Association team came to win, and they challenged us in every event. It was a hard-fought victory.

“But the true winners are the beachgoers — members of the public — who visit the beaches protected by these competitor lifeguards, knowing that they are being watched by some of the finest ocean lifeguards in the nation who had their skills, endurance and fitness tested in this highly competitive national level event. We look forward to having our team’s mettle tested again by all of the formidable competitors next year in Virginia Beach, Va.”

LA County had five athletes finish in the top ten of the Open Women’s individual competition and four athletes finish in the top ten of the Open Men’s individual competition, including Kelsey Cummings (2^nd place), Jenna Solberg (4^th place) and Coral Kemp (5^th place) on the women’s side and Brian Murphy and Jake Miller, second and third place finishers respectively, on the men’s side. Sussex County, Del.’s Alexandra Santer finished in the top three in the Open Women’s individual competition for the third year in a row.

Other top performers in the Jersey Mike’s 2022 USLA National Lifeguard Championships included the men’s overall points winner Thomas O’Neill, from Riis Park, N.Y. O’Neill was impressive all week winning the Surf Race and Rescue Race and finishing second in the Run-Swim-Run, Taplin Relay and Ironman to narrowly beat LA County’s duo of Murphy and Miller in a tight race for the title. On the women’s side, IronWoman and American IronWoman runner up Casey Francis from Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue was the overall points leader with 146.375, beating out Cummings who finished with 126.25.

For more information on the USLA National Lifeguard Championships and full results visit http://www.uslanationals.org/.

USLA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS: Saturday, August 13, 2022

Howard Lee Trophy – Overall Points Open and Age Group combined ‘A’ Teams with ranking, chapter and total points:

1. LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc. (Calif.) – 1792.125
2. California State Lifeguard Assoc. – 1366.503
3. Sussex County (Del.) – 794

LACOLA Trophy – Overall Points Open and Age Group combined ‘B’ Teams with ranking, chapter and total points:

1. Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue (Fla) – 276.75
2. Riis Park (N.Y.) – 257.375
3. Wrightsville Beach (N.C.) – 128.502

Small Chapter Championship Trophy – Overall Points Open and Age Group combined ‘C’ Teams (1-50 lifeguards) with ranking, chapter and total points:

1. Deerfield Beach (Fla.) – 141.375
2. Delray Beach Ocean Rescue (Fla.) – 80

Greg Farry Trophy – Overall Points Women & Men Open Only with ranking, chapter and total points:

1. LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc. (Calif.) – 1254.125
2. Sussex County (Del.) – 716
3. California State Lifeguard Assoc. – 529.503

Sheridan Byerly Trophy – USLA Region scoring the most Open & Age Group points overall with ranking, chapter and total points:

1. Southwest – 3614.378
2. Mid Atlantic – 2225.75
3. Southeast – 769.75

Men’s Overall Points Top Finishers

1. Thomas O’Neill – Riis Park (N.Y.) – 87.75
2. Brian Murphy – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc. (Calif.) – 85.25
3. Jake Miller – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc. (Calif.) 83.5

Women’s Overall Points Top Finishers

1. Casey Francis – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue – 146.375
2. Kelsey Cummings – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc. – 126.25
3. Alexandra Santer – Sussex County (Del.) – 107.625

SATURDAY’S EVENTS

2K BEACH RUN: 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 (clockwise or right hand in) the turning pole 1,000 meters distant, and return 1,000 meters toward the starting pole and then race to cross the finish line.  The finish is judged on the competitor’s chest crossing the finish line. Competitors must finish on their feet in an upright position.

OPEN MEN:

1. Evan Grace – Sussex County, Del.
2. Evan Malinow – Sussex County, Del.
3. Declan Burke – Sussex County, Del.

OPEN WOMEN:

1. Haley Wright – Ocean City, Md.
2. Tess McVan – San Diego Surf Lifesaving Assoc., Calif.
3. Meredith Lockwood – Sussex County, Del.

Age Group: 30-34

Men: Michael O’Reilly – Sussex County, Del.

Women: Jacquelyn Emmert – Galveston Lifesaving Assoc., Texas

Age Group: 35-39

Men: Drew Zailik – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Kristen DiTommaso – Monmouth County, N.J.

Age Group: 40-44

Men: Jason Gabriel – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Courtney Romero – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Age Group: 45-49

Men: Jesus Mena – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Rebecca Levine-Thomas – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Age Group: 50-54

Men: Mike Olsberg – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Angelika Cruz – Hampton Lifeguard Assoc., N.Y.

Age Group: 55-59

Men: Mike Bahel – Hampton Lifeguard Assoc., N.Y.

Women: Chris Linkletter – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group: 60-64

Men: Grady Howe – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Erin Lalor – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Age Group: 65-69

Men: Jay Palchikoff – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Jill Friedman – Jones Beach State Park, N.Y.

Age Group: 70-74

Men: Eldin Onsgard – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group: 75+

Men: Ed Heinrich – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

IRONMAN/IRONWOMAN: Competitors cover a 1,400 meter (approx.) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg, a ski leg and a beach sprint finish.

 Open Men’s

1. Brian Murphy – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.
2. Thomas O’Neill – Riis Park, N.Y.
3. Zane Booth – Santa Barbara Lifeguard Assoc., Calif.

Open Women’s

1. Kelsey Cummings – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.
2. Casey Francis – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.
3. April O’Gorman – Volusia Surf Lifesaving Assoc., Fla.

Age Group: 30-34

Men: Roman Strohmenger – Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Women: Coral Kemp – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group: 35-39

Men: Ryan Matthews – Monmouth County, N.J.

Women: Tiffany LaCasse – Palm Beach County, Fla.

Age Group: 40-44

Men: Ryan Gates – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Emily Hagen – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Age Group: 45-49

Men: Tyler Morgan – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Women: Jennifer Noonan – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group: 50-54

Men: Wolf Hanke – Laguna Beach Lifeguard Assoc., Calif.

Women: Michelle Davidson – Monmouth County, N.J.

Age Group 55-59

Men: Randall Eickhoff – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Chris Linkletter – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group 60-64

Men: Chris Barlow – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Women: Nan Kappeler-Carroll – California State Lifeguard Assoc.

Age Group 65-69:

Men: Mark Montgomery – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group 70-74:

Men: Joel Gitelson – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

Age Group 75+:

Men: Ed Heinrich – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

BOARD RESCUE: In this event, one member of the team swims approximately 120 meters to a designated buoy, signals and waits to be picked up by the second member of the team on a board.  They both paddle to shore and cross the finish line on the beach with the board.  Competitors must start the correct allotted position.  Competitors swimming to and signaling from the wrong buoy shall be disqualified.

OPEN MEN:

1. Dylan Narcowich & Roman Strohmenger – Deerfield Beach, Fla.
2. Aidan Hopkins & Bailey Noel – Sussex County, Del.
3. Brian Murphy & Jake Miller – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

OPEN WOMEN:

1. Holly Maine & Kelsey Cummings – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.
2. Casey Francis & Shannon Snell – Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, Fla.
3. Amanda Calabrese & Jane Brierley – Hampton Lifeguard Assoc., N.Y.

LANDLINE RESCUE: This event consists of four persons: one victim, one land-line 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 simmer reaches the victim, the simmer 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.

Open Mixed:

1. Andrew Presta, Brennyn Veit, Dylan Champagne, Joanie Cash – Jones Beach State Park, N.Y.
2. Alexander Moore, Anna McDermott, Joshua Walker, Peyton Weaver – Sussex County, Del.
3. Annalena Siering, Chris Javens, Coral Kemp, Malcolm Reid – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.

TAPLIN RELAY: Teams of 4 competitors (1 swimmer, 1 board paddler, 1 surfskier and 1 runner) cove 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 inn-water start.  Conditions of racing each leg are as generally required for the individual condition of that discipline including the rules governing the component disciplines: surf ski races, board races, surf race sand beach sprints. Competitors must commence their leg of the event from the correct allotted beach position. To ensure fair starts and finishes alignment of the start line and finish line to the buoys may be altered at the discretion of the referee, depending on the prevailing sea conditions.

OPEN MEN:

1. Brian Murphy, Chris Javens, Stephen Blaauw, Tim Burdiak – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.
2. Drew Modrov, Kyle Cornish, Peter Ebert, Thomas O’Neill – Riis Park, N.Y.
3. Daniel Lenahan (Deerfield Beach), Dylan Champagne (Jones Beach), John Livingstone (Delray Beach), Ryan Paroz (Hampton, N.Y.)

OPEN WOMEN:

1. Annalena Siering, Bella Siering, Jenna Solberg, Katelyn Nimsky – LA County Surf Life Saving Assoc., Calif.
2. April O’Gorman (Volusia), Casey Francis (Fort Lauderdale), Lucy Noble (Volusia), Shannon Snell (Fort Lauderdale)
3. Ava Smith, Mia Thomas, Paetyn Parman, Sam Barlow – San Diego Surf Lifesaving Assoc., Calif.