Woodlands Township lifeguards win state championship

The Woodlands Township Lifeguards have won their fifth consecutive state championship - and the sixth in the last seven years.

On the way to the Texas State Lifeguard Championship, The Woodlands team beat counterparts from Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels and teams from Conroe, Georgetown, Kerrville, McKinney, New Braunfels and Plano.

"These results represent the commitment to safety (that) lifeguards in The Woodlands have," said Aquatic Superintendent Nick Gluza in a press release celebrating the victory. "The guards that compete work a full week at one of our 13 community pools, and then spend extra time practicing skills to be ready for these competitions."

The Woodlands Lifeguards qualified for the final competition by finishing among the top three teams at the North Texas Guard Games, Texas Superguard, Central Texas Lifeguard Competition and Texas Open Lifeguard Competition. They took three separate four-person teams to compete in scenarios of CPR, first aid, rescues and spinal management.

The State Champion Team Number 1 consisted of Caroline Pierce, Michelle Nicholson, Brock Gerard and Zach Mankiewicz. Runners-up were Team 2, consisting of Sarah Conn, Emily Murray, Austin Mankiewicz and Ashton Johnson. Team 3 included Kent Doerries, Cody Due, Ana Forero and Amanda Porter.

For more information on The Woodlands Township and its services, visit its website at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.