Newtown Lifeguards Float To The Top In Statewide Competition

Newtown Park & Rec lifeguards took first place in the statewide Lifeguard Olympics held at Treadwell Park on Sunday, soundly beating five other teams in three of the five competitions and finishing best overall.

The annual event was sponsored by the Connecticut Recreation and Parks Association.

“Last year it was rained out,” said Barbara Kasbarian, director of Newtown Park & Rec. “Two years ago it was held in Norwalk, in the Sound, and our team finished second even though none of our lifeguards were experienced at swimming in the Sound. It’s very different than a pool.”

The teams competing included East Hartford, Bloomfield, New Britain, two from Rocky Hill, and Newtown. There were 10 lifeguards on a team. Newtown’s team included Blair Balmforth, Joe Blanchard, Ryan Ebert, Tara Foster, Bryan Kotwicki, Katherine Matz, Ryan Loring, Kate Ryan, Greg Taylor, and Nick Taylor.

Newtown finished first in water polo, rescue relay, and the biathlon, a relay event that included a 500-yard swim followed by a half-mile cross-country style run. Newtown finished second, behind East Hartford, in the shallow-water backboard rescue event. East Hartford also won the first aid competition, and came in third overall. Rocky Hill team #1 finished second overall, with 60 points. Newtown finished with 80 points, East Hartford with 55.

The events, and Newtown competitors, include:

Water Polo: Nick Taylor, Ryan Loring, Tara Foster, Joe Blanchard, Bryan Kotwicki.

First Aid: Blair Balmforth, Greg Taylor.

Backboarding: Kate Ryan, Joe Blanchard, Ryan Eberts, Katherine Matz.

Rescue Tube Relay: Ryan Loring, Nick Taylor, Blair Balmforth, Tara Foster, Katherine Matz.

Biathlon: Ryan Eberts, Kate Ryan, Joe Blanchard, Katherine Matz.