Will Rogers junior lifeguards excelled at the United States Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard Championships at Huntington Beach on August 5-7. More than a 1,000 lifeguards and junior lifeguards from across the country competed, and local kids Stephen Anthony, Mara Silka, Wes Gallie, Tristan Marsh, Natalie Stilz, Brendan Casey, Leah Timmerman and Olivia Kirkpatrick were among the top in their events. Will Rogers guards competed as part of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard team in four divisions, the AA (16-17 years old), A (14-15 years old), B 12-13 years old and C (9 to 11 years old). Taking first in the AA run was Stephen Anthony, who has been a Junior Guard for six years. Teammate Mara Silka was a top winner in the girl’s division placing first in the iron guard and distance paddle, and third in the run/swim/run, which consists of a 200 meter run, a 240 meter swim and another 200 meter run. ’Olivia Kirkpatrick, who grew up in Pacific Palisades and moved to Austin, Texas two years ago, returns every summer to train at Will Rogers. This year Kirkpatrick was a member of the team that took first in the AA swim relay; individually she placed second in the run/swim/run and the distance swim. In the A division, Tristan Marsh, was first in the rescue race, which involves two participants. The ‘rescuer’ swims out to a designated area where a ‘victim’ waits. The ‘victim’ holds onto a buoy offered by the ‘rescuer,’ and the ‘rescuer’ swims both back to the shore. The first team to reach the finish line at the beach wins.’ Marsh also took second in the distance swim and the swim relay and the iron guard. The iron guard starts with a 240 meter swim, then a 200 meter run, and finishes with a 600 meter paddle. Wes Gallie won the A Open run and took seventh in beach flags. Natalie Stilz was first in the rescue race, second on the swim rely, third in the run/swim/run and fourth in the distance swim and iron guard. In the B division, Brendan Casey was second in the distance swim and swim relay team and third in the run/swim/run. Leah Timmerman was the sole person to place in the C division taking a fourth in the rescue race. Other competitors included Jason Godelman, Anya Pertel, Tess King, Tiana Marsh and Zane Grenoble.”” At the regional tryouts in San Diego on July 23, other Will Roger guards who qualified for Nationals but did not compete were Andrew Hacker (AA) who placed third in the rescue relay and fifth in the run/swim/run. In the B division, Mardell Ramirez took first in the run/swim/run and the distance swim and second as a member of the relay. Neil Farnham and Mac Bradley were members of the run relay team, which placed second. Jason Godelman and Will Schwerdtfelter placed third in the paddle relay. Other members of the Will Rogers all-star team competing at regional’s included Noah Treiman, Hunter Loncar and Gillian Caverly.
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