Gurnee Park District wins Lifeguard Games

The Illinois Park and Recreation Association held its annual "Lifeguard Games" July 15 at Meadowhill Aquatic Center in Northbrook.

This event provides lifeguards the opportunity to showcase many of their rescue skills in a nonemergency, yet highly stressful (competitive) environment.

"This event is great practice for our guards. It allows them to test their lifeguard skills under stressful conditions they might experience in a real aquatic emergency," said Kara Moss, aquatic manager with the Gurnee Park District.

This year's competition had 35 lifeguard and junior lifeguard teams. GPD brought two lifeguard teams and one junior lifeguard team to the event. 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 seven years before the event. Both GPD lifeguards and junior lifeguards took first place again, making them state champs eight years running.

"We are all very proud of all of our teams and lifeguards who, most importantly, help keep our pool and our customers safe at Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center and FitNation. Our teams represented us well, as they finished in first and sixth place out of 35 lifeguard teams. These guards give 110 percent at our aquatic facilities, as well as for Guard Games.

"They practice late at night because they truly care about setting a positive example and upholding GPD standards all while having fun," Moss said.

"We are proud to set the bar high for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Lifeguard Games. These teams truly demonstrated that you can perfect your lifeguard skills, keep people safe and in a quick fashion to eliminate any major emergencies."

• First Place Lifeguard Team: Justin Elkinton, Sophie Pietranek, Maddie Pietranek, Jonathan Sweet and Guest in Distress Allison Salisbury

• Sixth Place Lifeguard Team: Max Bongratz, Jack Bongratz, Samantha Kroc, Natalie Schuler and Guest in Distress D.J. Bearnod

• First Place Junior Lifeguard Team: Lexi Dorner, Jordan Elkinton, Jack Foster, Ethan Harrigan and Nathan Weiner

In order to raise funds to attend the event, coaches Danielle Friedl and Braykur Robinson organized two carwashes at Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center.

"The community was welcome to attend the fundraiser and get their car washed to help cover the cost of registration, transportation and team apparel. The guards, under the guidance of Danielle and Braykur, were able to raise over $500," Moss said.

Friedl and Robinson have coached and organized the teams and practices for the past four years. All preparation, practice and day of event time is volunteer for both lifeguards and coaches.

"Thank you to our Danielle and Braykur for their tremendous role in motivating our staff and junior lifeguards toward another successful year at this event," Moss said.

Gurnee Park District employs approximately 60 lifeguards and about 70 other aquatic staff to supervise, instruct and otherwise deliver services to activities held at Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center, FitNation and Warren High School Pool.

"I am so proud of my staff for performing well each year in this event. However, I am more impressed with their preparation, the connection the community has with them and the general level of respect they show to each other, the host facility and the other competitors each year," Moss said.

"Gurnee should be proud to know that these are great, young adults with high moral standards. Our guards represent the community well every year, not just on the scoreboard."

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