By Angeljean Chiaramida
SALISBURY — They patrol four miles of some of the most challenging recreational water along the Massachusetts coastline, and Salisbury Beach State Reservation lifeguard's first-place win at the New England Life Saving Championships proves swimmers under their watchful eyes are in good hands.
The competitive championship at Old Orchard Beach in Maine on July 30 included lifeguard teams from nine New England beaches. But it was Salisbury's guards who took home the overall championship after their performance in 11 grueling contests earned them the most points.
"We're happy; they did really well. We took first place last year, too," said head lifeguard Fletcher Wasson of Newburyport, a four-year veteran at Salisbury Beach State Reservation. "We have trophies here (at the Reservation's Lifeguard Headquarters) that go back to the '50s."
For the first time, Wasson wasn't in last week's competition himself.
"Someone had to stay behind and patrol the beach," he said.
But Wasson clearly owns bragging rights for the competitors and the entire 26-member squad, which gathers every morning to work out together on their own time before work. They're such a respected group, competition is tough for a slot on Salisbury Beach's lifeguard brigade.
"This is a great job," Wasson said. "It's a good atmosphere, good team spirit and good people to work with. I love it."
Even with unseasonably cool and rainy weather in June and early July, the lifeguards have rescued 20 people in the waters off Salisbury's shores this season. Many of the rescues were because swimmers were caught in riptides that form off the beach.
"The riptides shift every day," Wasson said. "But there are one or two that stick around, and we try to keep people out of them."
Local first responders also have good things to say about Salisbury's crew of lifeguards.
"The quality of our lifeguards is excellent," said Salisbury police Chief David L'Esperance. "They're very, very helpful, and they have an excellent working relationship with us and with the state police who patrol the reservation."
The New England Life Saving Championships tested the skills needed for the variety of rescues guards face every day, Wasson said. Teams and individuals competed in running, swimming, surface diving, underwater, paddling and combination events.
In the 500-meter swim, Salisbury lifeguards Kris Reslow, CJ Cronin, Ethan Sullivan, Adam Eramo and Brian Ranta swept the field, taking places one through five, respectively.
In the 500-meter paddle board, Salisbury lifeguard Meghan Feram won first-place honors in the women's division, and Cronin took second for the men's.
As impressive as the individual wins are, it was in team contests that Salisbury lifeguards shone. The team of Eramo, Cronin, Ranta and Chelsea Foley took first place in the rescue reel pole drill; Reslow, Ethan Sullivan, Eramo and Ranta came in on top in the swim relay, and Kyle Losik, MacKenzie Wasson, Cronin and Eramo took first place in the paddle relay.
"It's all teamwork in rescues," Wasson said. "You have to work together to save lives."
Most of his colleagues at the reservation are from the local area, Wasson said. He and his brother MacKenzie are from Newburyport, others are from nearby Rye, N.H., and Beverly, and a lot are from the Haverhill area, Wasson said. Most were standout athletes in the region's high schools and are familiar with Salisbury's stretch of beach and challenging waters.
"I think some of CJ Cronin's records at Haverhill High School are still standing," Wasson said. "He was a distance swimmer there."
Salisbury lifeguards have another special event planned for this month, but it isn't a personal competition. Instead, it's a charitable effort to raise funds for the group's favorite program.
"We're having our 5-mile run on (Thursday), Aug. 20, at 6:15 (p.m.)," Wasson said. "It's open to everyone, and we use it to raise money for the drowning prevention program we do in schools in the winter."
Those wanting to run with the lifeguards should call 978-836-9763. Runners should be ready to start their beach run by 6 p.m., Wasson said. The event starts at Salisbury Beach's Lifeguard Headquarters.
Other Salisbury Beach State Reservation winners in New England Life Saving Championship Events
Two-mile run: third place, MacKenzie Wasson; fourth, William Sullivan.
Iron Guard (run/swim/paddle): first place women, Meghan Feram; second and third places men, CJ Cronin and Kyle Losik.
Run/surf/run: first, Ethan Sullivan; second, Kris Reslow; third, Adam Eramo.
Surf rescue: third place, team of Eramo and MacKenzie Wasson.
Beach flag rescue: fourth, MacKenzie Wasson.
Additional members of Salisbury's New England Life Saving Championship team: Christina Stone, Jessie Maihos.
