Upper Township women finish second, Sea Ice City beach Patrol third
LONGPORT — The Atlantic City Beach Patrol used a combination of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance to win the 28th Longport Women’s Lifeguard Invitational on July 7.
The ACBP won the swim and surf dash and took second in the doubles row en route to scoring 20 points for the team title. Scoring is 7 points for first place, 5 for second, 4 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth and 1 for sixth.
Upper Township Beach Patrol won the paddle, took second in the singles row and third in the surf dash and finished with 17 points. The Sea Isle City Beach Patrol was third in the doubles row and swim and picked up points in every event to score 15 for third place overall.
The ACBP’s Julianna Granese and Michelle Burwell (12:48) were a second behind Longport Beach Patrol’s sister duo of Maddie and rookie Lauren Fox (12:47) in the opening doubles row.
“It was rough, for sure. We had a little bit of a rough start going out, so that kind of set us back a little bit. But we were pretty dead on with the flag,” said Granese, who has been competing in the event since 2018. “When we turned, I kind of let the course go a little bit. We kind of went to the side, but I was kind of trying to ride to the swells just to give us a little bit of help.”
“We just tried to keep the rate and maintain it the whole time, throw in some Power 20s and play catchup a little bit until the end,” Burwell said.
The veteran guard was stoked about winning the overall title.
“It was an awesome race; we had a lot of fun. We’re super excited,” she said.
Burwell said it’s refreshing to see the young guards performing so well.
“We had a few rookies on surf dash and they crushed it in first place — first time we have first place in a very long time since I can remember competing.”
Veteran LPBP rower Maddie Fox was third last year with former teammate Emma Barnhart. This year she was excited to win the race with sister Lauren Fox, although it was not without its drama. The girls got in a collision with another boat.
“We tried not to let it fluster us, tried to keep moving. It’s one of those days coming in today where you don’t know if the wave is going to help you out and cross that line or if you’re going to nosedive,” she said. “I think we had such a strong body of the race that we were still able to pull through despite a couple little mishaps.”
Lauren Fox joins Maddie and follows older sister Megan Fox on the LPBP.
“I grew up going to lifeguard races and then last year and years before I was watching my sister, so to be able to race with her was definitely a full-circle moment,” she said.
Sisters Molly and Maura Quinn (13:06) were third for Sea Isle City.
In the swim, ACBP rookie Ady Elko (9:23) was first out of the water and nearly dry before the next competitor, Jordyn Ricciotti (9:58) of the LPBP, touched the rope.
“I had a lot of fun. I was really excited to get my first race done and it was really fun. It exceeded all my expectations,” Elko said.
She said she has competed in the Atlantic City Pageant Swim for years but this was her first beach patrol race.
“I’m not that experienced in the ocean,” the high school swimmer said. “It’s definitely a lot different because you have to like keep the course, definitely focus on staying on line, which is a lot different than the pool.”
Ricciotti, who is best friends with Elko’s older sister, did not begrudge taking second.
“It’s great to watch her win, especially as a rookie. She’s a great swimmer, so it’s always fun to swim against her,” she said.
Delaney Burns of the SICBP was third in 10:10.
Rhylee Cornell of the Ocean City Beach Patrol had to race to the flag for the second year in a row, again placing fourth.
“It was definitely rough. Going out was hard, but going in was harder because you can’t really see much until you’re probably at the sandbar, and that’s when I was able to stand up and say, ‘OK, the finish line is right in front of you,’” she said. “But what’s important is navigation and having a plan of what flags are you going to aim for and what building are you going to aim for when you swim back.”
The Ventnor City Beach Patrol’s Sam Keough easily won the singles row, following up her first-ever victory in last season’s finale, the Bill Howarth South Jersey Women’s Lifeguard Championship.
Keough (6:01) was first in the boat and setting her stroke while others were just getting seated.
“I think just trying to get in quickly, pick with my shoulders on the way out and just have a clean start. That was my whole goal, just going into it, trying to put together a good race. Did that, was first to the flag, and then knew that I could hold on if I got ahead. So, I just relied on my ability,” she said, noting it would be her last race since she will be taking a new job out of state.
Keough had placed third at the event for the past three years and finally got the win in her final race.
“I just tried to go out with a bang,” she said.
Lorna Connell of the UTBP, who was second in 6:29, said it was the first time she had rowed singles without previously rowing in the doubles race.
“I felt really good because this is literally like the first time and I was like, ‘Oh, this is what it’s like to not double up. But honestly, I had a great race,” she said.
The SICBP’s Maura Quinn was third in 6:38.
The UTBP’s Gemma Kohles (4:13) won the paddle race, topping the Margate City Beach Patrol’s Marina Zappone (4:51) and the OCBP’s Brynn Gallagher.
“Me and Brynn Gallagher, we were tied and we both caught a wave and fell off, so it was really just who would catch the next wave,” Kohles said. “Brynn’s a great competitor.”
The rookie said she grew up surfing with Gallagher.
“I always have looked up to her like a big sister, so it feels a little wrong beating her but I love her and she’s always a great friend,” she said.
Gallagher said the race was a good way to “kick the dust off” after a winter off the beach.
“It was pretty close out of the gates, you know, the whole time, honestly. Short race, sprint, riding some waves,” she said.
The ACBP wrapped up the competition with a victory in the surf dash. Emma Crozier, Grace Marczyk, Tess Roman and Madison Listinsin won the event in 1:38, putting the patrol over the top for the team title.
The MCBP’s Callie Duff, Kami Smallwood, Ava McDole and Isabella Iordanov were a close second (1:39) and the UTBP’s Grace Malcarney, Grace Steele, Emily Culmone and Kohles were third (1:42).
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
