 Congratulations to WCBP Alumnus Andrew Kouzema who was recently commissioned as an officer in the US Marine Corps. Andrew will be attending Notre Dame Law School as a second year student and upon completing his law degree will then assume a position in the Judge Advocate General division. Friends and family joined Andrew in Quantico, VA to celebrate, including current WCBP lifeguards Justin Cattan and Anthony LaRose. The WCBP wishes Andrew continued success in the United States Military.
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Henry "Skip" Flanagan: 1962-1967The lessons and values of the beach patrol have a special way of sticking with you once life has forced you in another direction. That notion holds true with alumnus, Skip Flanagan. After working for the WCBP for six summers, Skip dedicated himself to a career in education and coaching. While earning a Ph.D, Skip studied at some of the most prestigious universities in the country. Presently, Skip serves both as the Dean and Head Lacrosse Coach of the esteemed Avon Old Farms School in Avon, CT. Aside from mentoring countless students over the years, Skip has also built his lacrosse program into a national powerhouse that is routinely ranked among the top 25 high schools in the country.  What made you join the beach patrol? Although I hailed from Maryland, I had grandparents and an aunt and uncle (Dave Snyder of the Wildwood Crest Police Dept.) who lived year round in the Crest. Therefore, my summers, throughout my childhood were always spent in New Jersey. I grew up always looking up to those on the Beach Patrol and hoped that, one day, I would be a guard. As it turned out, I was fortunate enough to experience many years on the stands and as a Lieutenant in the jeep. What are some of your best memories from your years with the WCBP? I recall the excitement that came along with situations that involved rescues where a combination of individual (swimmers) and boats were used. In my many years, this did not happen very often, but when it did it proved to be memorable indeed. On the other extreme, I liked the infrequent days when the weather took us away from the duties on the beach and the vast majority of us were involved in a most competitive game of touch football in the shadow of the Rambler Road Station. The level of play would probably not have gained interest from either Sports Illustrated or ESPN! From a personal standpoint, I was able to serve along with my younger cousin, Tom Snyder, for a couple of seasons. Being with Tom, a really dedicated guard, was a bonus.  Tell us about your life after the beach. For the most part, life after the "beach" included education and study that has kept me in schools and universities ever since. Rutgers, Harvard and Michigan found me toiling away in their collective libraries through the Ph.D level and I served as a Headmaster and Dean at prep schools for 44 years. I still work in that capacity at Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut. Lacrosse remains my sport of choice and I've been fortunate enough to be on the coaching staff for The English National Team in recent World Championships, having previously coached The University of Michigan, The Peddie School, Western Reserve Academy and Avon. I married the "girl" who was so very much a part of my life while I was on the Patrol. Britt and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. We have two daughters and five grandchildren, two of whom are in college. She has been the best part of my life and I count my blessings. I managed to link up with a beautiful, intelligent, kind and understanding "trophy wife" from the get go...how lucky is that!  How has the beach patrol impacted your life? I so enjoyed the sense of "brotherhood" within the organization and the feeling of "good will" that we shared. On a more serious light, the notion of preparing for events (rescues) that would only infrequently occur was a good lesson indeed. We all knew that when the time came, we would have to depend on preparation and practice. On balance, it paid off when it was needed! I'd also have to say that getting in shape mentally and physically for the end of the season Lifeguard Championships was good practice for other applications in other fields of endeavor later in life..... I also felt that the "chain of command" helped to teach the importance of taking on more responsibility as one was elevated to a higher position on the patrol. Trying to manage the various personalities, strengths, weaknesses and egos of the various guards while getting the job done and keeping the beach safe was a lesson unto itself sometimes. What advice would you give a young guard today? Cherish your time on the Patrol! The years go far too quickly and the multiple elements of life will come your way soon enough. Know that you must always be willing to be diligent and prepared as your maturity and timely reaction to multiple situations matters greatly. While, in many ways, being on the patrol provides an idyllic summer experience, it also carries with it significant responsibilities. As the Coast Guard's motto, "Semper Paratus".....Always Ready. Indicates, be prepared for all that comes your way through preparation....not a bad lesson for life! Matthew Donahue: 1985 - 1990Dependable, courageous, humble, and diligent. These are some of the qualities that the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol looks for in their candidates each year. Alumnus, Matthew Donahue was a guard that optimized what it meant to serve on the beach. He has taken valuable lessons learned during his years with the WCBP and has applied them to his life after the Crest. We are excited that Matthew has been so kind as to share some of his experiences from his time as a Wildwood Crest lifeguard.  What made you join the beach patrol? The challenge of being on such a respected beach patrol and to have the experience of doing something gratifying for summer work that wasn't just for the money but to create life experiences and being around like minded people that pushed physical activity and competition. What are some of your best memories from your years with the WCBP? I think one of the best memories I have of the WCBP was that I opened the door and opportunity for three of my brothers to follow me on the beach patrol. Have always been proud of the fact that for one weekend we were all able to guard together on the beach thanks to the Captain letting me come back a guest guard the Labor Day weekend! Doing the around the island row approximately 8 times with 4 different guards (my brother Glenn, Dave Lindsey, Tom Fredricks, and Linda Kelly. The workouts in the morning were always fun and the camaraderie with the other guards and busting chops was great. Being able to row the van dyne boat through the pylons under the pier near Cresse Ave when Buddy wasn't looking and when there was actually water under the pier then!!!! Going to the race track in AC with Joe Maloy and all the other bad influential Beach tent crew, losing my shirt from bets and have way too much fun on the bus ride up and back and Buddy making us run the rock pile the next morning. By the way, that wasn't me who put John Lincke's stand out at the end of the pier after the Ball! Tell us about your life after the beach. After unfortunately having to depart the beach patrol I entered into the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1991 as a Special Agent. I am currently still with the DEA and have had the opportunity to work in numerous cities in the United States where I conducted criminal Investigations of all levels and be a part of our high risk arrest team. I was assigned to the country of Colombia on two separate occasions and worked throughout south America for 11 of my years with DEA where I served as a Special Agent and the Assistant Regional Director of the Andean Region. I am currently the Special Agent in Charge of DEA's Caribbean Field Division which covers the entire area of the Caribbean from the Bahamas to Barbados. I still get back to the Crest when I can for the summers and really enjoy being on the beach and thinking about the great memories I had there with WCBP and my family. How has the beach patrol impacted your life? I would have to say that the impact of being on the WCBP with my experiences, lessons learned, and things seen while on the Beach Patrol influenced and molded me into the person I am today. Gave me the courage and belief to know I could overcome hurdles and difficulties in life to be successful. Taught me how to get up, brush myself off and move on and learn from the lesson. Being around such a great group of guards and tent crew who all have had various life experiences and come from different backgrounds is an invaluable and incredible opportunity to have while you are pondering life decision you have to make going forward in your life. I was very fortunate to have the Bill, Skip and the Feraco's, Max, Bick, Buddy and may others during those days who always over friendship and guidance. What advice would you give a young guard today? With my life experiences, my travels and the things I have seen and done since life after the beach I would have to say live each day fully and and don't cheat yourself out of one second. What you learn and experience on the beach with your fellow guards are all building blocks for your life to move forward and to prepare you for things that you might never imagine could happen and or experience. No matter how small your task is, irrelevant you might think your assignment is, unimportant you feel things are that day....... realize that you get much more out it it by doing the best you can with care care, tenacity and pride. It is the small things that make you successful and respected. What I learned on the beach is CHARACTER is something you do when no one is watching.... because you do it because you believe it should be done and you can be depended on because of your reputation. Feel fortunate that you are on a team and with a group each summer that maintains a special and unique history that has produced some very successful people in many fields and positions and they all look back on their WCBP days as some of their best in their lives. That should tell you that you have a terrific opportunity being on the WCBP. So live it, love it, give it 100% always and know that someone's life could depend on you at a moments notice, so ALWAYS be ready! Video courtesy of Kip Brazie Photography The ocean is a majestic, powerful and ever changing element, full of beauty and wonder. We find peace in its calmness and can be humbled by the energy and strength it can display. Living near the ocean fosters a bond and familiarity and can provide a never ending education about water conditions. Enjoying water sports on the ocean deepens the connection to nature and also develops a deep respect for the unpredictable possibilities. Committed surfers, sailors, fisherman, paddlers and others focus a vast amount of attention on the ebb and flow of the tides, wave size predictions, strength and direction of the wind, even phases of the moon to make decisions on reaping benefits of what the ocean has to offer. Ocean knowledge can only be gained with experience. The elite level of these activities will surely chalk up their understanding to time in, on or around the water.
Then there are those that work professionally with the ocean as their office. This develops yet a higher level understanding and ability to identify situations. There is a glaringly obvious sixth sense to anticipate probable outcomes and react accordingly. In the position of a seasoned ocean lifeguard this skill plays a most critical role. DUTY CALLS In this video, one of our ambassadors, Tim Capra, a 22 year ocean rescue veteran and off duty lieutenant with the Vero Beach Lifeguards, rescues two people from a rip current while enjoying an evening at the beach with his family. While being filmed for a short interview to raise awareness for the upcoming Earth Day beach cleanup by Surf City surf shop owner, Kip Brazie, Capra sees a rip current developing near some bathers. As he moves closer to the water, the bathers are swept into deeper water where they can no longer stand and Capra hits the water in a full sprint with his daughter’s small foam surfboard. As he approaches the victims, who now have been sucked out beyond the breaking waves, a fully blown rip current has clearly formed. Rip currents are more common during larger surf episodes but can flash at anytime without warning. They are primarily caused by water that rushes back out to sea through a gap in a sandbar, creating a river type flow that even a strong swimmer could not swim directly into. Once Capra has the victims holding onto the board, he makes his way back towards shore and into shallow water. The quick actions of Capra and his ability to not only see the developing danger but simultaneously identify that the non-swimmers were unaware of what was happening, leaves this story with a happy ending. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD The United States Lifesaving Association offers these tips to avoid and survive rip currents: Learn how to swim!
The primary safety devices for Standup Paddle Boarding are the use of a leash to connect yourself to your board and a Coast Guard certified Personal Floatation Device (PFD). For some great info on what type of PFD is right for you, check out this video from Tahoe SUP dealer Big Winds in Hood River Oregon. By Ronnie Posted March 31, 2017 in SUP Lifestyle Shane Whipkey: 2004 - 2008Alumnus, Shane Whipkey leads off our first ever "Alumni Spotlight". Shane worked for the beach patrol for five summers and is a graduate of Villanova University. He shares some of his favorite memories from his time in the Crest.  What made you join the beach patrol?
Summer job with great people and to stay active all while having fun oh and maybe to talk to girls... What is your best memory from your years with the WCBP? WCBP winning the Beschen-Callahan Races while my mom was in the hospital for breast cancer, it was the first time WCBP had won the races in several years. Chief Buddy Johnson asked me to come up with him to accept the award as the races are in honor of my uncle Mike. Also, the Devils Triangle, LCR, any lifeguard ball, Gum guy, Tri-Woods, and not letting my partner, Ryne Adolph, operate the radio. What are you up to now? Live in New York City and work as a Senior Relationship Manager at Bloomberg L.P. How has the beach patrol impacted your life? Taught me the true meaning of teamwork and camaraderie. I learned how to respect the ocean and to treat the beach patrons with respect. I made some life long friends and have memories and stories to last a lifetime. What advice would you give a young guard today?
 Joe Maloy, Greg Billington and Ben Kanute are the three men who will represent the United States in triathlon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August. Each earned his first Olympic appearance through a rigorous selection process that concluded Saturday at the ITU World Triathlon Series race in Yokohama, Japan.
Maloy, 30, has recorded a series of top-20 finishes bridging the end of last season to this year, including a best of sixth at the World Triathlon Series Gold Coast event last month. He then took 11th in Yokohama Saturday, which boosted his World Triathlon Series ranking to 16. He closed 2015 placing seventh at the Cozumel ITU World Cup, followed by an 11th-place effort at the Tongyeong, South Korea, event a week later. The second American across the line and 16th overall at the Rio de Janeiro ITU World Olympic Qualification Event, he was fourth at the 2015 national championships after winning the title in 2014. He also has a bronze medal to his credit, won at the 2014 Cozumel world cup. A four-year member of the Boston College swim team, Maloy then became an assistant coach at the school for two more. He won 12 varsity letters (cross country, track, swimming, tennis) at Wildwood Catholic High School in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. A pair of top-10 finishes at the beginning of April indicates that Billington, 26, is rounding into form as Rio approaches. Currently 34th in the WTS rankings, he was the top American finisher at the Rio de Janeiro ITU World Olympic Qualification Event, placing 15th. The Spokane, Washington, native closed out 2015 by placing fifth at the Tongyeong world cup stop. A two-time U23 U.S. champion (2011, 2012), he logged his career-best world cup placement in 2013, when he was fourth at the Guatape, Colombia, event, and also won the Dallas ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup that year. He also was champion of the 2014 Hong Kong ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup. The youngest of the three Olympic triathletes at 23, Kanute jumped up to 43rd in the current WTS rankings after placing 17th in Yokohama, 1:25 off the winning time. He won the CAMTRI sprint race in Clermont, Florida, earlier this season and finished 11th at the New Plymouth, New Zealand, world cup event in April. The reigning U.S. national champion, he had a career-best silver-medal finish at the 2014 world cup race in Tongyeong. A two-time junior elite national champion (2008, 2010), he was the first U.S. triathlete to the tape at the 2015 ITU Grand Final in Chicago, finishing 20th, and closed out the 2015 season as the top-ranked American in the ITU World Triathlon Series. The three men join women’s team members Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah True, who qualified for the women’s team last year based on their placements at the Rio Olympic qualification event, where Jorgensen finished first and True took fourth. A third woman will be selected to the team in the coming days. By Craig Bohnert |
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