The lifeguard team from San Marcos, “The Gaards,”took first place overall at the 2008 Red Cross Lifeguard Games, which was hosted at the Carlsbad Community Swim Complex Saturday.
Ashley Nijinski and Miles Hitchcock from “The Gaards” won by accumulating the most points overall in skills tests against 30 other teams from San Diego and Imperial Counties. Second place went to the City of Coronado. The team from Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center won third place.
Lifeguard teams demonstrated their skills in a series of team and individual events, including submerged victim towing, shallow water backboarding, two-person CPR, throw bag, 50-yard crawl swim with rescue tube, 100-yard breaststroke with rescue tube, 10-pound brick carry, a first aid test, and an inner tube relay. Each team participated in all team events and each member participated in one individual event.
In individual events, Adam Dean won first place in the 50-yard front crawl. Representing the City of Escondido, Ryan Stygar won the 100-yard breaststroke, and Mark Rubins won the Obstacle Challenge.
The city of San Marcos took home the Erik Von Darr Inspirational Award for demonstrating the most team spirit.
The Red Cross thanks Edward Jones – Bonsall, Elizabeth Marquez, Sharp Business Systems, Chipotle, Jammin’ Z90.3, Aquazone, Vitamin Water, Chattem and Souplantation for their support of the Lifeguard Games.