Gurnee lifeguards win first in ‘Games’

Submitted by Gurnee Park District

The Illinois Park and Recreation Association held its annual Lifeguard Games Sunday, Aug. 5, at the Portage Park Pool in Chicago.

This event gives lifeguards the opportunity to showcase many of their rescue skills in a nonemergency, yet highly stressful (competitive) environment, which allows them to perform these skills under similar conditions as they might experience in a real aquatic emergency.

This year’s competition had more than 40 lifeguard and junior lifeguard teams. Gurnee Park District entered four lifeguard teams and one junior lifeguard team this year.

Each team competed in eight events to determine a champion. Both the district lifeguards and junior lifeguards were defending champions for their respective divisions for the past three years before the event.

GPD Junior Lifeguards took first place and their lifeguards also took first place, making this their fourth consecutive year as champs.

“We are all very proud of all of our teams and all of our lifeguards who, most importantly, help keep our pool and our customers safe at the Gurnee Park District,” GPD Superintendent of Recreation Lisa Sheppard said.

Lifeguard Teams (designated Guest in Distress)

Ÿ First-place team: Bethany Drebing, Willis Mathews, Luke Hassemer, Anne Wright (Brianne Schultz)

Ÿ Fourth-place team: Zach Drennan, Kelsey O’Hara, Allison Salisbury, Austin Salisbury (Julia Mathews)

Ÿ 10th-place team: Debbie Dy, Donny Pieper, Erin Siekmann, Connor Tully (Hayley Dawkins)

Ÿ 11th-place team: James Dadabo, Sarah Micksch, Ashley Mitrovic, Dan Neal (Jonathon Sweet)

Junior Lifeguard Teams (Designated Guest in Distress)

Ÿ Jr. Lifeguards: Natalie Schuler, Liz Schuler, Mikey Aykroid and Michael Harrigan (Parker Reinhard, Jessica Rojas).

The Gurnee Park District employs approximately 65 lifeguards and about 55 other aquatic staff to supervise, instruct and otherwise deliver services to activities held at Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center, Gages Lake Pool, and the Warren High School Pool.

“I am so proud of my staff for performing well each year in this event,” said Scott Crowe, aquatic manager for the district.

“I am more impressed with their preparation, the connection the community has with them by supporting their car wash each year, and the general level of respect they show to each other, the host facility, and the other competitors each year.”

He also emphasized, “Gurnee should be pleased to know that these are great young adults with high moral standards and they represent you well every year, not just on the scoreboard.”

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