Gurnee Park District teams win Lifeguard Games
Submitted by the Gurnee Park District
The Illinois Park and Recreation Association held its annual Lifeguard Games Friday, July 26, at the Wing Park Aquatic Center in Elgin.
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 35 Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard teams. Gurnee Park District entered three Lifeguard Teams and one Junior Lifeguard Team this year. Each team competed in seven events to determine a champion.
Both the district lifeguards and junior lifeguards were defending champions for their respective divisions for the past four years before the event. Both GPD lifeguards and junior lifeguards took first place again.
“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 Aquatic Manager Tim Beckmann said.
“Our teams represented us well as they finished in first, fourth and 15th place out of 35 lifeguard teams. I feel that their success represents the hard work of all of our aquatic staff and we have been fortunate enough to showcase this now for many years with many new competitors each year.”
He went on the say that this award is not just for the lifeguards. A lot of other staff members that work as attendants, customer service or lesson staff help out with practices and fund raise for the event.
The lifeguard teams were: (designated Guest in Distress)
Ÿ First place: Katie Bell, Alex Rastovac, Allison Salisbury and Austin Salisbury; with designated Guest in Distress Shelbe Smoller.
Ÿ Fourth place: Tim Neal, Mike Neal, Kelsey O’Hara and Julia Matthews; with designated Guest in Distress Gabby Walker.
Ÿ 15th place: Ryan Constantino, Emma Hassmer, Alyssa Peiffer and Donny Pieper; with designated Guest in Distress Paul Neal.
Ÿ Junior Lifeguards: Jack Bongratz, Michael Harigan, Juan Pereyra and Kate Swoboda; with designated Guests in Distress Zack Bongratz and Kayla Martinez.
The park district also thanked some other key staff that helped organize its car wash to fund the entry fees and “spirit wear” for the event.
Braykur Robinson, Danielle Friedle and Jenni Salisbury organized the teams and practices on their own time. Ryan Constantino and Jack Yamaji taught the Junior Lifeguards this summer and helped organize the Junior Lifeguards for the event.
The Gurnee Park District employs approximately 67 lifeguards and about 66 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. They are passing on the tradition set along time ago when I worked here part-time as a lifeguard/pool manager,” Beckmann said.
“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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