The Sussex County Lifesaving Association (SCLA) won its first United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships held August 6 through August 9, 2024, in South Padre Island, Texas.  The USLA National Lifeguard Championship is the Super Bowl equivalent of competitive lifeguard surf racing.  The SCLA had 79 lifeguards swim, paddle, row, and run in individual and relays events.  Events like surf rescue, board rescue, and landline simulate real life rescue techniques used in lifeguarding everyday throughout the world.

The team from Delaware is the first to win a national championship outside of teams from California or New Jersey.  The SCLA earned 2^nd place at the USLA National Lifeguard Championships last year in Virginia Beach, VA.  The SCLA had competitors on the team representing the following Delaware Lifesaving agencies:  Delaware State Beach Patrol, Rehoboth Beach Patrol, Dewey Beach Patrol, Sussex Shores Beach Patrol, North Bethany Beach Patrol, Bethany Beach Patrol, Sea Colony Beach Patrol, Middlesex Beach Patrol, and Fenwick Island Beach Patrol.  The Delaware lifeguards earned 1,465 points to place first. Los Angeles County, CA finished 2^nd at this year’s event with 939 points, and Monmouth County, NJ was 3^rd with 759 points.  Elizabeth Fry (Sea Colony Beach Patrol) led the SCLA with 100.5 points, Coleman Woodward (Delaware State Beach Patrol) 60.5 points, Cindy Fajarado (Sea Colony Beach Patrol) 58.75, Bailey Noel (Delaware State Beach Patrol) 51.37, Ashlynn Roselle (Sussex Shores Beach Patrol) 42.0 points, and Declan Burke (Middlesex Beach Patrol) with 41.625 points.

SCLA Team Captain Derek Shockro shared, “Talent wins local competitions, but teamwork and smart surf racing wins national championships.  Delaware came together and delivered knock-down performances on the beach and in the surf, topping the most powerful programs from New Jersey, Florida, and California.  This is just another reason why Delaware is the FIRST state!”

The SCLA is now focused on preparing for the 2024 World Lifesaving Championships in Broadbeach, Australia.  The 2024 WLC will take place August 20th – September 8^th.  Sophia Gulotti (RBP), Lainey Shockro (DSBP), Ashlynn Roselle (NBBP), Rachel Kline (SSBP), Konner Knarr (RBP), and Derek Shockro will be representing Delaware at the 2024 WLC.  Sophia Gulotti and Konner Knarr will also be participating for Team USA as it goes to battle with 10 other lifeguards from the USA to compete against countries from around the world.

SCLA high point scorer and 2^nd overall women’s USLA nationals high point Elizabeth Fry stated, “Delaware put in the work last off-season going into the summer.  Cold days and winter wetsuits contributed to the Sussex County grit displayed this week at nationals.  We just kept training, improving, excelling…and it showed in Texas…Nationals Champs!