Lifesaving Report: Ontario Waterfront Lifesaving Championship

The Waterloo Warriors Lifesaving Club traveled to the scenic Bluffers Beach park to compete in the Ontario Waterfront Lifesaving Championships. Waterloo took its largest team to date, a team of 8 men and 4 women. The lifesaving squad shifted its training to the beach starting mid-may and this competition represents the culmination of that effort this season.

To lead off, Meghan McGrath (), placed 11th, in the Iron Guard, an individual relay including running, swimming and paddle boarding.

On the men's side, Gowthaman Thayaparan () qualified for the 90m beach sprint A-finals, placing 8th.

Four of the men's team qualified for the Iron Guard finals with Greg Oulton () leading the pack in 5th overall, followed by Alex Johnson () (8th), Steven Tang () (14th), and Sam Schirm (15th).

The highlight of the first day included the men (Greg Oulton (), Alex Johnson (), Sam Schirm, Adrian Cossu ()) collecting their first medal, a silver, in the Rescue Tube Rescue relay. The women (Freya Lewis (), Meghan McGrath (), Lauren Blechta (), Caitlin Schopp) placed 5th.

Sam Schirm placed 5th in the surf swim, the last event of Day 1.

On Day 2, Greg Oulton () brought home Waterloo's second medal of the competition, a bronze in the 2km beach run. Alex Johnson () finished behind him in 9th while on the women's side, Lauren Blechta () placed 11th.

In the Oceanman, an individual relay involving swimming, paddleboarding and surf skiing, Greg Oulton () led the men finshing just off of the podium in 4th place while Meghan McGrath () placed 11th on the women's side.

Both the men and women had three members each qualify for the Board race finals. The women stuck together with Lauren Blectha, Meghan McGrath (), and Freya Lewis () finishing 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively. Once again, Greg Oulton () would be denied the podium as he placed 4th with Alex Johnson () close behind in 5th. Sam Schirm placed 14th. Caitlin Schopp placed 8th in the 16-19 year old board race.

Both the men and women finished the board rescue relay in 5th place to end the day.

The performances over two days culminated in Greg Oulton () placing 6th in overall points while the women were led by Meghan McGrath () in 16th.

The Waterloo Lifesaving Club will be training during the Fall term. New members are always welcome. Come out and train with us!

Other notable performances:
14th - Andrew Walker () - 90m Men's Beach Sprint
5th - Men's 4x90m Beach Sprint Relay (Steven Tang (), Andrew Walker (), Gowthaman Thayaparan (), Adrian Cossu ())
10th - Greg Oulton () - 700m Men's Surf Ski
16th - Caitlin Schopp - 400m Women's 16-19yo Surf Swim
10th - Meghan McGrath () - 400m Women's Surf Swim
11th - Freya Lewis () - 400m Women's Surf Swim
14th - Lauren Blechta () - 400m Women's Surf Swim
4th - Oceanman Relay (Adrian Cossu (), Greg Oulton (), Alex Johnson (), Sam Schirm)
8th - Oceanman Relay (Tristan Hannah, Steven Tang (), Gowthaman Thayaparan (), Andrew Walker ())
7th - Women's Oceanwoman Relay (Caitlin Schopp, Lauren Blechta (), Freya Lewis (), Meghan McGrath ())
10th - Women's Board Rescue relay (Lauren Blechta (), Caitlin Schopp)
11th - Gowthaman Thayaparan () - Beach Flags 16-19yo
7th - Adrian Cossu () - Men's Beach Flags

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Players Mentioned

Greg Oulton: First Year; Environment & Business

Andrew Walker: First Year; Honours Science

Meghan McGrath: First Year; Kinesiology

Alex Johnson: First Year; Coach

Adrian Cossu: First Year; Rec & Leisure (Masters)

Gowthaman Thayaparan: First Year

Steven Tang: First Year

Freya Lewis: First Year; Honours Accounting

Lauren Blechta: First Year

Players Mentioned

Greg Oulton
: First Year; Environment & Business

Andrew Walker
: First Year; Honours Science

Meghan McGrath
: First Year; Kinesiology

Alex Johnson
: First Year; Coach

Adrian Cossu
: First Year; Rec & Leisure (Masters)

Gowthaman Thayaparan
: First Year

Steven Tang
: First Year

Freya Lewis
: First Year; Honours Accounting

Lauren Blechta
: First Year

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned