(TROY,
MI)
– Four lifeguards from Troy claimed
first-place honors at the annual Michigan Recreation and Park Association Lifeguard
Competition on Friday, August 7. The
half-day event, held at the Troy Family Aquatic Center, tests participant’s
skills in five categories to sharpen skills and determine bragging rights
through challenging physical and mental tests.
“The
MRPA Lifeguard Competition presents guards with intense physical and mental
challenges,” said MRPA Executive Director Dennis Schornack. “The event helps lifeguards keep their skills
sharp, while having fun in a friendly, yet competitive atmosphere.”
The
lifeguards compete in teams of two at the MRPA competition, with participants
divided between a women’s and men’s division. Teams compete in five events:
CPR, spinal rescues, retrieval drills, tug of war and the Monster Event. The
Monster Event is an obstacle course designed differently each year to be both
physically and mentally challenging for the guards.
Teams
from the Troy Family Aquatic Center took first-place honors in both the men and
women’s competitions. The team of Kyle Curry and Scott Johnson narrowly won the
men’s competition with a total of 86.5 points, while Nicki
Rockentine and Lisa Inman dominated the women’s
competition with a final score of 89 points.
Erica
McIsaac and Rebecca Gleit,
also representing Troy, earned third place in the women’s division with 78
points, while teammates Alex Houck and Alex Solak took third in the men’s
competition with a score of 80 points.
"The
competition was really close this year, and the overall skill of the lifeguards
was exceptional,” said Jamie Freese from the City of
Livonia who was the key event organizer.
"The City of Troy were fantastic hosts, they definitely contributed
to the overall success of the competition."
The
competition was hosted by the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association
Aquatics Committee. Sponsors included
Advanced Pool Services, Hasty Awards, Water Safety Products, Aquatic Source,
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Footprints Sportswear, Northwest Pools and The Lifeguard
Store.
To
learn more about the competition, contact Jamie Freese
at jfreese@ci.livonia.mi.us
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