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Junior Lifeguards kick up sand at Rehoboth Beach contest

Alexis Zolper, 5, center, is greeted by RBP guard Taylor Grenier as she competes in the Run, Swim, Run competition. Alexa's grandfather, father and three uncles were former RBP members. BY DAN COOK
Dan Cook
August 7, 2015
C.J. Fritchman, 10, of the Dewey Beach Patrol leads the group out of the surf in the Run, Swim, Run competition. BY DAN COOK
Joe Giles, 10, of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol wins the beach run competition. BY DAN COOK
The 8-9-year-old group takes off for the beach run competition. BY DAN COOK
Dewey Beach Patrol's Brexton Carter runs to his partner in the soft sand relay. BY DAN COOK
Lt. Rob Mason, left, of the Dewey Beach Patrol reviews strategy with junior guard Melanie Fritchman. BY DAN COOK
Rehoboth Beach Patrol junior guard Katie Giles leads the way to a stick during the beach flag competition. BY DAN COOK
The lead group in the run, swim, run competition sprints around the flag and jumps into the surf. BY DAN COOK
Rehoboth Beach Patrol junior guard Corinne Furey leads the way during the run, swim, run competition. BY DAN COOK
Dewey Beach Patrol's Karissa LeMaire, center, poses with junior guards Carrie Clausius, left, 9, and Macy Steinwedel, 8. BY DAN COOK
RBP junior guard Lindsay Rambo, 12, wins the run, swim, run event. BY DAN COOK

For nearly 20 years, the Rehoboth Beach Patrol has played host to the Junior Lifeguard Olympics, where squads from around the Delaware and Maryland beaches have toughed out big waves and hot sand to show their skills in the heat of competition. This year, Aug. 3 was their big day to shine.

The local junior guard programs begin in late June and run to the beginning of August. Participants learn beach rules and guarding skills that will someday make them full-time veteran guards.The Junior Lifeguard Olympics show the accumulation of their training.

Events such as the run, swim, run race, paddleboard relay race, soft sand relay race, swim sprint competition, distance run, and beach flags were highly contested during the evening on Baltimore Avenue.

Even though there was no score kept during the event, the beachgoers will be the winners to have these future lifeguards to watch over them while they enjoy the ocean.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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